A dispute between Turkey and the Netherlands escalated Saturday after Turkish ministers were banned from speaking at a rally in Rotterdam.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan called the Netherlands a “Nazi remnant” for revoking Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu’s flight permit to land in Rotterdam. A police barrier later blocked Family Minister Fatma Betul Sayan Kaya from entering the Turkish consulate in Rotterdam. She was instead escorted to the German border by police.
“The world must take a stance in the name of democracy against this fascist act! This behavior against a female minister can never be accepted,” Kaya said in a tweet.
The ministers were scheduled to attend a rally in support of a referendum that would expand Erdogan’s power in Turkey. The Dutch government banned the rally over fears it would spark tensions ahead of the Netherlands’ general election Wednesday.
Police had to use water cannons to disperse Turkish protestors outside the consulate late Saturday.
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Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said his government tried to find a “reasonable solution” but realized it was “impossible” due to their differences.
Erdogan showed little willingness to solve the dispute when he spoke at an Istanbul rally Sunday.
“Holland! If you are sacrificing Turkish-Dutch relations for the sake of the elections on Wednesday, you will pay a price,” Erdogan said, according to BBC.
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