Alwaght- The Netherlands has barred a plane carrying the Turkish foreign minister from landing, drawing the rage of the Turkish president who compared the Dutch government to Nazis while addressing a rally of supporters in Istanbul.
The Netherlands has withdrawn permission for Mevlut Cavusoglu’s flight to Rotterdam ahead of a rally supporting expanded powers for Recep Tayyip Erdogan, saying it "risks to public order and security".
The ban comes despite Ankara’s threat of sanctions against Amsterdam if the Dutch government cancels Cavsuolgu’s visit.
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 further slammed the threat of sanctions and said such a move “made a reasonable solution impossible.”
Cavusoglu had also denounced as “fascist practices” the bans by the Dutch government on rallies aimed at gathering support among Turkish citizens in the Netherlands in the April 16 referendum on giving executive powers to the Turkish president.
Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu
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 in support of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Erdogan reacts furiously
The Turkish President also responded to Netherlands' ban by comparing the Dutch government to Nazis while addressing a rally of supporters in Istanbul.
“You can stop our foreign minister's plane all you want, let's see how your planes will come to Turkey from now on,” Erdogan told booing crowds.
“They do not know politics or international diplomacy…these Nazi remnants, they are fascists.”
Mr Cavusoglu had already been barred from addressing a Turkish rally on the upcoming constitutional referendum by local authorities Rotterdam.
It was the latest of a series of prohibitions on campaigning in Europe by Turkish leaders drumming up support among the country’s expat voters, including several in Germany.
