Netherlands bars Turkish FM’s plane from landing

The Netherlands has barred a plane carrying the Turkish foreign minister from landing to drum up support for an April referendum in Turkey, saying the trip was be a threat to public order.

Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte on Saturday said Turkey’s call for a massive rally had upset discussions under which his Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu would have been allowed to enter the European country.

The ban came despite Ankara’s threat of sanctions against Amsterdam if the Dutch government canceled Cavusoglu’s visit.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan lashed out at the decision, saying the ban was reminiscent of Nazism and pledged to retaliate. 

Cavusolgu had told CNN Turk earlier in the day, “I am going to Rotterdam today, if the Netherlands cancels my flight permit, our sanctions to the Netherlands would be heavy.”

The Dutch premier slammed the threat of sanctions, saying such a move “made a reasonable solution impossible.”

Cavusoglu denounced “fascist practices” by the Dutch government against rallies aimed at gathering support among Turkish citizens in the Netherlands in the April 16 referendum on giving executive powers to Erdogan. 

Amsterdam had previously expressed opposition to Ankara’s plans for holding a referendum rally there. Germany has also canceled two Turkish ministers’ plans for rallies.

During the Saturday interview, the Turkish foreign minister said German and Dutch bans on campaigns for a ‘Yes’ vote in the upcoming referendum on constitutional changes means that Europe is “taking a side for a ‘No’ vote.”

SS