WEB DESK
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has described the Dutch Government as Nazi remnants and fascists, amid a diplomatic row over a cancelled rally.
Erdogan has slammed the Dutch move canceling Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu’s flight permit.
Addressing an inauguration ceremony in Istanbul Saturday, Erdogan confirmed that Cavusoglu’s flight permit had been canceled.
“How will your country’s [diplomatic] flights come here now after not granting permission to our foreign minister?” Erdogan asked the Dutch authorities.
“They neither know politics nor international diplomacy… These are the remnants of Nazis, they are fascists,” he added.
Turkey’s Family Minister was also blocked from entering the Turkish consulate in Rotterdam as the spat between the two nations worsened yesterday. Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said Erdogan’s remark was way out of line.
Earlier, a rally in the city due to be hosted by the Turkish Foreign Minister was banned for security reasons. Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu had been hoping to harness the votes of the Turkish diaspora in the Netherlands, home to some 400,000 Turks, ahead of a referendum in Turkey next month on whether to expand Mr Erdogan’s powers.
Dutch riot police have used water cannons and horses to disperse protesters outside the Turkish consulate in Rotterdam, as the city expelled a Turkish minister.
More than 1,000 people had gathered outside the building as the diplomatic row between the two nations escalated.
Protesters were reportedly throwing bottles and mobbing police cars.
Turkey’s family minister was denied access to the consulate, and later escorted to the German border.
Fatma Betul Sayan Kaya had arrived by road on Saturday ahead of a rally planned to help harness the votes of Turks living in the Netherlands.
In this regard, Turkey has summoned the Dutch charge d’affaires to the foreign ministry in Ankara for an explanation.
Austria, Germany and Switzerland also banned similar gatherings where Turkish officials were due to speak.