ISTANBUL, Turkey – Turkish minister who was announced persona non grata in Netherland’s Rotterdam and subsequently deported to Germany overnight following a row between both countries over a cancelled rally said that she witnessed “inhuman treatment” at the hands of the Dutch authorities.
Fatma Beytul Sayan Kaya, the minister for Family and Social Policies, was in the Netherlands to encourage the Turkish voters there to support the Yes campaign in the coming April referendum in Turkey on a number of constitutional reforms.
She travelled to the country via land after the Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu’s flight was cancelled by the Dutch authorities earlier on Saturday.
The Dutch Foreign Ministry described her visit to Rotterdam “irresponsible” saying that they had communicated to the Turkish side that her visit was not welcome, but that she declined to abide, forcing the country to escort her out to Germany.
Kaya who condemned the way she was treated claimed that even the very basic needs were not provided to her, while five members of her team were detained by the authorities.
The Dutch riot police used water cannons and police horses to break up a protest of Turkish residents in Rotterdam, believed to number about 1000 people.
Kaya who landed in Ataturk’s airport in Istanbul on Sunday gave a press conference, accompanied by minister of energy Berat Albayrak.
Albayak described the overnight events “a night of shame for European democracy.”
The Dutch cancelled a flight that carried Cavusoglu who had earlier warned that Turkey would impose “severe sanctions” against Netherlands if they revoked the permit for his flight.
“The Turkish threat made the quest for a reasonable compromise impossible, and led to the Dutch decision to deny landing rights,” a statement from the Dutch foreign ministry stated.
Cavusoglu, too, was on his way to take part in the rally in support of the Yes campaign.
The Dutch said that they cancelled the rally on the grounds of public safety and security.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan commenting on the cancelled flight described the Dutch government as “Nazi remnants and fascists,” warning that the Turkish government should cancel the Dutch flights to Turkey as a response.
FM Cavusoglu vowed that Turkey’s response would be “10 times stronger” against any step taken by the Dutch.
Turkey has since closed the Dutch embassy and consulates by stopping any movements to and out of the buildings. It has also asked the Dutch ambassador to Ankara who is currently out of Turkey to stay away “for a while”.
An unidentified man meanwhile has raised a Turkish flag briefly over the building of the Dutch consulate in place of the Duthch’s.
