Mounted police disperse pro-Erdoğan crowd in Rotterdam after family affairs minister was barred from rally and escorted to German border

This article is more than 3 years old

This article is more than 3 years old

Turkish authorities have sealed off the Dutch embassy and consulate, sources at Turkey’s foreign ministry have said, in the latest incident in a tit-for-tat row between the two countries over Turkish campaigning in Europe.

Turkey also closed off the residences of the Dutch ambassador, charge d’affaires and consul general as tensions between the Nato partners escalated after the Dutch government barred Turkey’s foreign minister from flying to Rotterdam.

In the Netherlands, the Turkish family affairs minister was detained by the authorities to prevent her addressing a Rotterdam rally in support of the Turkish president and escorted to the German border. Police later used horseback charges to break up a pro-Turkey crowd that had gathered at the country’s consulate in the city.

Fatma Betul Sayan Kaya said through her Twitter account early on Sunday that she was being taken to the town of Nijmegen, near the border with Germany, adding that she condemned the Dutch authorities’ action in “the name of all of our citizens”.

What are Turks voting on in the referendum? Turkey goes to the polls on 16 April to vote on constitutional amendments that would transform the country from a parliamentary democracy into a presidential system. The referendum could bring about arguably the most significant political development since the Turkish republic was declared in 1923: under the new system, President Erdoğan will be able to stand in two more election cycles, meaning he could govern as a powerful head of state until 2029. The president's supporters say the new system will make Turkey safer and stronger. Opponents fear it will usher in an era of authoritarian one-man rule.

Kaya wrote: “the whole world must take action against this fascist practice! Such a treatment against a woman minister cannot be accepted.”

Earlier, Erdoğan branded the Netherlands “Nazi remnants” and “fascists” after the Dutch government withdrew permission for his foreign minister to landin the Netherlands for a planned visit.

Rotterdam city authorities withdrew permission on Friday for Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu to attend a meeting of the Turkish community to rally support for Erdoğan’s plans to extend his powers. The plans are to be voted on in a referendum in Turkey next month.

Several other European cities have banned Turkish officials from attending such meetings aimed at expats who are allowed to vote in the referendum.

The Dutch prime minister, Mark Rutte, announced in a statement on Facebook that the plane carrying Çavuşoğlu had been barred from landing.

The Dutch vote on Wednesday in national elections, the campaigning for which has featured anti-immigration sentiment, and there are concerns Çavuşoğlu’s presence could disrupt public order.

Speaking at a rally in Istanbul, Erdoğan said of the Dutch government: “They do not know politics or international diplomacy … these Nazi remnants, they are fascists,” as the crowd booed in response.

Rutte said Turkey’s call for a large rally in Rotterdam had derailed discussions about whether Çavuşoğlu could enter the country. A threat of sanctions from Turkey if Çavuşoğlu were denied entry “made a reasonable solution impossible”, he said.

Turkish diaspora in Germany divided on powers for Erdoğan Read more

Çavuşoğlu said on Saturday he would fly to the Netherlands despite the rally being cancelled. He said he was expected to appear at the Turkish consulate, as he had done when authorities in Hamburg banned him from speaking at a rally in the German city last week.

“If my going will increase tensions, let it be,” he told CNN Turk. “What damage will my going have on them? I am a foreign minister and I can go wherever I want.”



Rutte said that while the Netherlands and Turkey could try to find “an acceptable solution”, Turkey was not respecting the rules relating to public gatherings.

“Many Dutch people with a Turkish background are authorised to vote in the referendum over the Turkish constitution. The Dutch government does not have any protest against gatherings in our country to inform them about it,” he said.

“But these gatherings may not contribute to tensions in our society and everyone who wants to hold a gathering is obliged to follow instructions of those in authority so that public order and safety can be guaranteed.”

Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, the leader of Turkey’s main opposition party, criticised the Dutch decision, saying it was “not correct.

“Those who defend democracy would not do such things. You’ll call yourself a democrat and then not permit the flight of a minister of the Turkish republic?”

Later on Saturday, the Turkish foreign ministry said it does not want the Dutch ambassador to Turkey, who is currently on leave, to return to the country “for some time”..

In a statement, the ministry was also critical of the decision by the Netherlands to bar Çavuşoğlu: “It has been explained to our counterparts that this grave decision taken against Turkey and the Dutch Turkish community will cause serious problems diplomatically, politically, economically and in other areas.”