Türkİye, Politics, World, Europe

Turkish deputy PM tells Europe to not back neo-Nazis

In the end, you will see, the Netherlands will apologize to Turkey, Numan Kurtulmus adds

13.03.2017 - Update : 15.03.2017
Turkish deputy PM tells Europe to not back neo-Nazis

By Hanife Sevinc

ANKARA

Deputy Prime Minister Numan Kurtulmus has warned European politicians against playing into the hands of neo-Nazis by being seen as backing racism and Islamophobia.

In remarks made at a meeting with Turkish businessmen in Ankara on Monday, Kurtulmus strongly criticized European states, including the Netherlands for banning Turkish ministers from organizing rallies in connection with the upcoming referendum on constitutional reforms in Turkey.

"In the end, you will see, the Netherlands will apologize [to Turkey]," he said.

However, he said, he does not expect to see a better future for Turkey with Europe and European politicians.

"We are sorry for them, and we worry for them.

"This treatment [against Turkey] is a result of neo-fascism and neo-Nazism which have been on the rise in Europe for the last five years," he said.

He also said: "If European politicians side with extreme racism, anti-immigration, Islamophobia, especially against Turkey, then this will play into the hands of neo-Nazis."

Kurtulmus warned moderate European politicians would not be able to carry out their election campaigns following the rise of neo-Nazism in Europe. "They should pull their socks up," he said.

The deputy premier’s remarks came after the Dutch government canceled Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu's flight permit to the Netherlands and then blocked a convoy carrying Family Minister Fatma Betul Sayan Kaya from entering the Turkish Consulate in Rotterdam on Saturday.

He also thanked Turkish citizens for carrying out a peaceful protest in the Dutch city when they learnt about the mistreatment of the Minister Kaya. "Although they had different political point of views, they went there with a sense of their national conscience. They displayed huge solidarity with our minister," he said.

When Turkish citizens in the Rotterdam peacefully protested, they were met by Dutch police using batons, dogs and water cannons, in what some analysts called a disproportionate use of force.

Earlier on Monday, Ankara sent diplomatic notes to the Netherlands in protest against the recent incidents.

About claims of Turkey's isolation in the world, Kurtulmus said: "We are not isolated in the world. Our friends in our near geography, our friends in the Islamic geography of 1.7 billion people, even the oppressed nations from Africa to Latin America confer with Turkey’s right, and see Turkey's position."

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