Dutch prevent Turkish ministers from speaking in growing dispute

SBS World News Radio: Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan has called for international sanctions against the Netherlands for barring two of his ministers from speaking at rallies.

Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan says the Dutch government is acting like a 'banana republic'.

Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan says the Dutch government is acting like a 'banana republic'. Source: AAP

Recep Tayyip Erdogan has hit out at the Dutch government after it prevented two ministers from attending rallies in the Netherlands.

First, the Turkish foreign minister was barred from flying to Rotterdam for a speech.

Later, Turkey's family minister was stopped from entering the Turkish consulate in the port city, then escorted out of the country to Germany.

The moves have angered Mr Erdogan, who warns the Netherlands will "pay the price" for its actions.

"I call on the European Union institutions and international organisations that have a mission to protect democracy, human rights and the state of law to raise their voices against the Netherlands and impose sanctions against this country. I've been holding phone calls until 4 o'clock in the morning."

The Dutch government had warned Turkish officials not to come days before its general election on Wednesday.

The election campaign in the Netherlands has been marked by the rise of nationalist groups such as Geert Wilders's anti-Islam party.

Dutch authorities cited security concerns and said there was a risk of Turkish political divisions flowing over into its own Turkish minority, which has both pro- and anti-Erdogan camps.

The leader of the D66 party, or Liberal Democrats, Alexander Pechtold, has expressed his support for the Dutch government's decision.

"I think that most of the parties in The Netherlands supported the Cabinet and the Mayor of Rotterdam, and that's a good sign. This is a city, this is a country, of tolerance, of freedom, and, in Turkey, they could learn from us."

Politics is at play on both sides.

For Mr Erdogan, the image of Turkey oppressed by Europe will help bolster support from Turkey's nationalists before a referendum next month on boosting his powers.

Mr Erdogan says the Netherlands is acting like a banana republic.

"The Netherlands is nothing like an EU country. It is acting like a banana republic. The world has witnessed how those who lectured Turkey on human rights, rule of law and democracy for years are far from those values. Now they are trying to find excuses for their misbehaviour. Whatever you say, you cannot hide what is already out there. What they did is a scandal."

At a speech in France, Turkey foreign minister Mevlut Cavusoglu, barred from speaking in Rotterdam, accused the Dutch of fascism.

"In the Netherlands, the so-called 'capital of democracy' - and I say this in quotation marks, because they're actually the capital of fascism - all members of the Supreme Board of Judges and Prosecutors are appointed by the king or the queen upon the recommendation of the justice minister. Where's democracy? Where's the independent judiciary? The minister. A bureaucrat. A politician."

Mr Erdogan made similar remarks last week when he compared the Dutch to what he called "Nazi fascists."

Dutch prime minister Mark Rutte said the comments were "completely unacceptable" and has demanded Mr Erdogan apologise.

"We are absolutely willing to de-escalate, but, of course, these utterings of the President of the Turkish Republic do not help. And they are completely unacceptable, that's clear."

Several European Union countries have been drawn into the diplomatic crisis.

German chancellor Angela Merkel says she will do all she can to prevent Turkey's domestic tensions spreading onto German territory.

Denmark's prime minister has postponed a planned meeting with the Turkey prime minister, saying he is concerned that democratic principles are under great pressure in Turkey.

Austria and Switzerland have also cancelled Turkish rallies due to the escalating dispute.

 

 


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4 min read
Published 13 March 2017 3:00pm
Updated 13 March 2017 5:48pm
By Lydia Feng

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