Turkey summons Dutch envoy, ministry sources

Turkish citizens gather outside Turkish consulate in Rotterdam to protest after the Dutch government stopped Turkish ministers holding events in Rotterdam, Netherlands. 12 March 2017. [Dursun Aydemir/ Anadolu Agency]

Dutch police clashes with Turkish demonstrators who gathered outside the Turkish consulate in Rotterdam to protest against the Dutch government’s ban on Turkish ministers speaking in the country. 12 March 2017. [Dursun Aydemir/Anadolu Agency]

Dutch police in Rotterdam [Dursun Aydemir/Anadolu Agency]

Turkey summoned the Dutch envoy in Ankara today to complain about the actions of Rotterdam police against Turkish protesters over the weekend, foreign ministry sources said.

In a diplomatic note, Turkey’s foreign ministry said that the police intervention was disproportionate and called for legal action against police misconduct, the sources said.

#Turkey & #Netherlands

Dutch police used dogs and water cannons yesterday to disperse hundreds of protesters waving Turkish flags outside the consulate in Rotterdam. Some protesters threw bottles and stones and several demonstrators were beaten by police with batons, a Reuters witness said. Mounted police officers charged the crowd.

The protests were sparked after the Netherlands barred Turkish ministers from speaking in Rotterdam, fuelling a row over Ankara’s political campaigning abroad. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is looking to the large number of Turks living in Europe to help secure victory next month in a referendum that would give his office sweeping powers.

Dutch police in Rotterdam [Dursun Aydemir/Anadolu Agency]

Dutch police use water canons against Turkish demonstrators who gathered outside the Turkish consulate in Rotterdam to protest against the Dutch government’s ban on Turkish ministers speaking in the country. 12 March 2017. [Dursun Aydemir/Anadolu Agency]

ROTTERDAM, NETHERLANDS – MARCH 12: Dutch police stand guard as the Turkish citizens gather outside Turkish consulate in Rotterdam to protest Dutch government after its ban on ministers, in Rotterdam, Netherlands on March 12, 2017. The Dutch government on Saturday canceled the flight permit for Turkish Foreign Minister’s Mevlut Cavusoglu and blocked Turkish Family Minister Fatma Betul Sayan Kaya’s convoy from entering the Turkish consulate in Rotterdam. ( Dursun Aydemir – Anadolu Agency )

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