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Turkey referendum: Clashes as Dutch expel minister | |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Dutch riot police have clashed with protesters in Rotterdam, amid a diplomatic row that saw a Turkish minister escorted out of the country. | |
Water cannon and police on horseback were used to disperse about 1,000 people outside the Turkish consulate. | |
The minister was trying to win support among expatriates for a referendum on expanding Turkish presidential powers. | |
The Dutch government says such rallies would stoke tensions days before the Netherlands' general election. | |
Fatma Betul Sayan Kaya, Turkey's family minister, had arrived by road on Saturday ahead of her planned rally. | |
But she was denied entry to the consulate in Rotterdam. | |
Ms Kaya was then taken to the German border by police, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte confirmed early on Sunday morning. | Ms Kaya was then taken to the German border by police, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte confirmed early on Sunday morning. |
Earlier, the Netherlands had barred Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu from entering the country by plane. He has now travelled to Metz in northern France to address a rally there on Sunday. | |
In a Facebook post, Mr Rutte said attempts to find a "reasonable solution" to the countries' differences had proved "impossible", while dismissing Ms Kaya's arrival in Rotterdam as "irresponsible". | In a Facebook post, Mr Rutte said attempts to find a "reasonable solution" to the countries' differences had proved "impossible", while dismissing Ms Kaya's arrival in Rotterdam as "irresponsible". |
Ms Kaya said on Twitter: "The world must take a stance in the name of democracy against this fascist act! This behaviour against a female minister can never be accepted." | |
Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said on Sunday that Turkey would respond in the "harshest ways" to this "unacceptable behaviour". | |
Turkey's Hurriyet newspaper later reported that Ms Kaya had flown from Cologne back to Istanbul. | |
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan had earlier denounced the Dutch government as "Nazi remnants and fascists" for denying the rallies. | |
The BBC's Turkey correspondent, Mark Lowen, says that what began as a diplomatic row has turned into a full-blown bilateral crisis. | |
What is the row about? | What is the row about? |
Turkey is holding a referendum on 16 April on whether to turn from a parliamentary to a presidential republic, more akin to the United States. | Turkey is holding a referendum on 16 April on whether to turn from a parliamentary to a presidential republic, more akin to the United States. |
If successful, it would give sweeping new powers to the president, allowing them to appoint ministers, prepare the budget, choose the majority of senior judges and enact certain laws by decree. | If successful, it would give sweeping new powers to the president, allowing them to appoint ministers, prepare the budget, choose the majority of senior judges and enact certain laws by decree. |
What's more, the president alone would be able to announce a state of emergency and dismiss parliament. | What's more, the president alone would be able to announce a state of emergency and dismiss parliament. |
In order to get it passed, Mr Erdogan needs the votes of citizens living within Turkey and abroad. | |
There are 5.5 million Turks living outside the country, with 1.4 million eligible voters in Germany alone - and the Yes campaign is keen to get them on side. | |
So a number of rallies have been planned for countries with large numbers of expat voters, including Germany, Austria and the Netherlands. | |
However, Mr Erdogan's supporters have found themselves blocked from holding these rallies. | However, Mr Erdogan's supporters have found themselves blocked from holding these rallies. |
Why are countries trying to prevent the rallies? | Why are countries trying to prevent the rallies? |
Many of the countries have cited security concerns as the official reason. | |
Austrian Foreign Minister Sebastian Kurz said Mr Erdogan was not welcome to hold rallies as this could increase friction and hinder integration. | Austrian Foreign Minister Sebastian Kurz said Mr Erdogan was not welcome to hold rallies as this could increase friction and hinder integration. |
Mr Rutte said the Netherlands asked Turkey to desist as they feared "compromised public order and security". | |
The Dutch government is also facing a severe electoral challenge from the anti-Islam party of Geert Wilders in its election on Wednesday. | |
Many European nations have also expressed deep disquiet about Turkey's response to the July coup attempt and the country's perceived slide towards authoritarianism under President Erdogan. | |
Germany in particular has been critical of the mass arrests and purges that followed - with nearly 100,000 civil servants removed from their posts. | Germany in particular has been critical of the mass arrests and purges that followed - with nearly 100,000 civil servants removed from their posts. |