Turkey summons Dutch envoy to complain over Rotterdam police action

She said that the Nazi comparisons are “completely unacceptable”.

“They are the vestiges of the Nazis, they are fascists”, Erdogan told an Istanbul rally Saturday, days after he angrily compared moves to block rallies in Germany to “Nazi practices”.

Earlier, Erdogan had angered German Chancellor Angela Merkel by making similar remarks about Nazism in her country. Turkish government-controlled papers suggested Germany was targeting the president’s party while allowing Turkish opposition politicians to hold political meetings.

The demonstrations were being held ahead of a Turkish referendum next month that aims to give President Erdoğan sweeping new powers.

A diplomatic feud broke out between the two countries at the weekend after Turkish ministers were banned from attending a pro-Ankara rally in Rotterdam.

Turkish Family Minister Fatma Betül Sayan Kaya was not allowed into the consulate general in Rotterdam late Saturday. Minister Fatima Betul Sayan Kaya tweeted: “Netherlands is violating all worldwide laws, conventions and human rights”.

The prime minister’s office said Danish representatives and Turkish officials had been discussing the possible meeting for several weeks. “What’s more, we’re not done yet”. “We are not afraid of this, but their doings are really inhuman”, he said, according to Anadolu.

Erdogan told a rally in Istanbul that the Dutch “do not know politics or global diplomacy”.

It was the third time the Dutch envoy was summoned since Saturday over the row. Cars and motorbikes drove in circles, waving Turkish flags and blowing their horns.

But the rally was banned for security reasons, and the minister’s plane was then refused permission to land.

Amnesty International has recently launched a campaign for urgent action against the Turkish government’s increasing control over media outlets and imprisonment of journalists and writers following a failed coup attempt in Turkey on July 15.

TURKEY’S President branded the Dutch “Nazi’s” in a vitriolic tirade against the country as relations deteriorate between the two nations. Cavusoglu also referred to possible sanctions, and Rutte said consultations under such threats were impossible, forcing him to bar the visit.

The government in Turkey argues the changes would ensure stability and create more efficient governance but opponents say it would lead to one-man rule and further inflame tensions in its diverse society.

In Germany, there are about 1.5 million Turkish expatriates that can vote on the April referendum.

Both Germany and the Netherlands have a large number of citizens with Turkish voting rights.

Erdogan also appeared to threaten the Germans, saying, “If you don’t let me in, or if you don’t let me speak, I will make the whole world rise up”. It’s a right-wing populist message. And I have said I will come to Rotterdam.

He said he was forced to take action because Ankara had threatened sanctions against his government. He has called for a collective European Union response to prevent individual countries coming under pressure from Turkey.