Rotterdam, Netherlands • Turkey and the Netherlands sharply escalated a dispute between the NATO allies Saturday as the Dutch blocked campaign visits by two Turkish ministers, prompting Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to call them fascists and "Nazi remnants."
From keeping Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu from landing in the Netherlands to Turkish officials closing off the Dutch Embassy and calling the Dutch ambassador no longer welcome, relations between the two sank ever deeper in the diplomatic standoff over the right of Turkish government officials to speak about their political plans at rallies in Europe.
The Dutch first withdrew the landing rights of the foreign minister because of objections to his intention to rally in Rotterdam for a Turkish referendum on constitutional reforms to expand presidential powers, which the Dutch see as a step backward from democracy. And later, Fatma Betul Sayan Kaya, the Minister of Family and Social Policies, was kept out of the Turkish consulate in Rotterdam after traveling from Germany, insisting that the "Netherlands is violating all international laws, conventions and human rights by not letting me enter."
Erdogan told a rally in Istanbul that the Dutch "do not know politics or international diplomacy." He compared them to "Nazi remnants, they are fascists."
Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte called it "a crazy remark, of course. But I understand they are angry, but this is of course way out of line."
Erdogan had earlier this month already compared German policies to "Nazi practices" after German municipalities canceled several campaign events by Turkish officials last weekend. He told a rally in Istanbul on Saturday: "You can stop our foreign minister's plane all you want, let's see how your [diplomatic] planes will come to Turkey from now on."
Cavusoglu also referred to possible sanctions, and Rutte said consultations under such threats were impossible, forcing him to bar the visit.
The government said it withdrew the permission because of "risks to public order and security," causing Cavusoglu to ask, "So is the foreign minister of the Turkish republic a terrorist?"
In the evening, a Turkish foreign ministry official who spoke on customary anonymity said the Dutch Embassy in Ankara and its consulate in Istanbul were closed because of security reasons.
The Turkish foreign ministry also said that it doesn't want to see the Dutch ambassador, who is out of the country, return to his post for some time because of the increasingly divisive dispute with the Netherlands.
Cavusoglu said he arrived in Metz, France, late Saturday where he was expected to address crowds Sunday. Turkish officials have been campaigning in various European cities before the April 16 referendum.
Around 100 people marched in Istanbul on Saturday afternoon to protest the Dutch decision as demonstrators placed a black wreath in front of the Dutch Consulate amid a heavy police presence.
At dusk in Rotterdam, hundreds of pro-Turkish demonstrators had gathered outside the Turkish Consulate with flags in a peaceful protest after the acrimonious words between both governments.
The diplomatic row comes at a time when relations between Turkey and the European Union, of which the Netherlands is a member, have been steadily worsening, especially in the wake of Erdogan's actions since last year's failed coup. More than 41,000 people have been arrested and 100,000 civil servants fired from their jobs.
Cavusoglu said that "unfortunately Europe and several countries in Europe, the Netherlands being in the first place, they are reminiscent of the Europe of World War II. The same racism, Islamophobia, xenophobia, anti-Semitism, we see all the crimes against humanity in today's politics."
The dispute also comes just days before the Netherlands goes to the polls Wednesday in an election for the lower house of Parliament. The campaign has been dominated by issues of identity, with anti-Islam lawmaker Geert Wilders set to make strong gains. After Wilders accused the government of a weak response to Turkish plans to send ministers to the Netherlands to campaign, he insisted it was his pressure which made the difference.
"Great! Thanks to heavy PVV- pressure a few days before the Dutch elections our government did NOT allow the Turkish minister to land here!!," he said in a Twitter message.
Campaign staff hold a banner reading "Stay Away, This Is Our Country" as firebrand anti Islam lawmaker Geert Wilders, left, protests outside the Turkish embassy in The Hague, Netherlands, Wednesday, March 8, 2017, against the planned campaign visit of Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu to lobby for a referendum giving President Erdogan increased powers. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong)
The Foreign Minister of Turkey Mevlut Cavusoglu speaks during a visit of the booth of Turkey at the tourism fair ITB in Berlin, Germany, Wednesday, March 8, 2017. (AP Photo/Michael Sohn)
Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte takes a selfie with a well-wisher during a campaign stop in Breda, Netherlands, Saturday, March 11, 2017. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong)
Riot police stand outside the Netherlands consulate as the supporters of Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan stage a protest in Istanbul, Saturday, March 11, 2017. Turkey and the Netherlands sharply escalated a dispute between the two NATO allies on Saturday as the Dutch withdrew landing permission for the Turkish foreign minister's aircraft, drawing Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to call them "fascists." (AP Photo/ Emrah Gurel)
A huge poster of Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan for the upcoming April 16 referendum near the Dutch consulate in Istanbul, Saturday, March 11, 2017. Turkey and the Netherlands sharply escalated a dispute between the two NATO allies on Saturday as the Dutch withdrew landing permission for the Turkish foreign minister's aircraft, drawing Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to call them "fascists." (AP Photo/ Emrah Gurel)
Dutch police block the road leading to the Turkish consul's residence in Rotterdam, Netherlands, Saturday, March 11, 2017. Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu was due to visit Rotterdam on Saturday to campaign for a referendum next month on constitutional reforms in Turkey. The Dutch government says that it withdrew the permission for Cavusoglu's plane to land because of "risks to public order and security." (AP Photo/Peter Dejong)
Dortmund's head coach Thomas Tuchel shouts during the German Bundesliga soccer match between Hertha BSC Berlin and Borussia Dortmund in Berlin, Germany, Saturday, March 11, 2017. Berlin defeated Dortmund by 2-1. (AP Photo/Michael Sohn)
Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan gestures as he addresses his supporters in Istanbul, Saturday, March 11, 2017. Turkey and the Netherlands sharply escalated a dispute between the two NATO allies on Saturday as the Dutch withdrew landing permission for the Turkish foreign minister's aircraft, drawing Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to call them "fascists". (Kayhan Ozer/Presidential Press Service, Pool Photo via AP)
Demonstrators wave turkish flags outside the Turkish consulate in Rotterdam, Netherlands, Saturday, March 11, 2017. Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu was due to visit Rotterdam on Saturday to campaign for a referendum next month on constitutional reforms in Turkey. The Dutch government says that it withdrew the permission for Cavusoglu's plane to land because of "risks to public order and security." (AP Photo/Peter Dejong)
Demonstrators wave turkish flags outside the Turkish consulate in Rotterdam, Netherlands, Saturday, March 11, 2017. Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu was due to visit Rotterdam on Saturday to campaign for a referendum next month on constitutional reforms in Turkey. The Dutch government says that it withdrew the permission for Cavusoglu's plane to land because of "risks to public order and security." (AP Photo/Peter Dejong)
Demonstrators wave turkish flags outside the Turkish consulate in Rotterdam, Netherlands, Saturday, March 11, 2017. Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu was due to visit Rotterdam on Saturday to campaign for a referendum next month on constitutional reforms in Turkey. The Dutch government says that it withdrew the permission for Cavusoglu's plane to land because of "risks to public order and security." (AP Photo/Peter Dejong)
Demonstrators arrive at the Turkish consulate in Rotterdam, Netherlands, Saturday, March 11, 2017. Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu was due to visit Rotterdam on Saturday to campaign for a referendum next month on constitutional reforms in Turkey. The Dutch government says that it withdrew the permission for Cavusoglu's plane to land because of "risks to public order and security." (AP Photo/Peter Dejong)
Demonstrators wave turkish flags outside the Turkish consulate in Rotterdam, Netherlands, Saturday, March 11, 2017. Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu was due to visit Rotterdam on Saturday to campaign for a referendum next month on constitutional reforms in Turkey. The Dutch government says that it withdrew the permission for Cavusoglu's plane to land because of "risks to public order and security." (AP Photo/Peter Dejong)
Supporters of Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan walk to the Dutch consulate in Istanbul, Saturday, March 11, 2017. Turkey and the Netherlands sharply escalated a dispute between the two NATO allies on Saturday as the Dutch withdrew landing permission for the Turkish foreign minister's aircraft, drawing Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to call them "fascists." (AP Photo/ Emrah Gurel)
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