Democratic values trampled underfoot: Turkish minister

By Ahmet Sait Akcay

ANKARA 

Turkish family minister said she was en route to Germany with a police escorting her after hours of argument in an effort to enter Turkish consulate in Rotterdam.

Fatma Betul Sayan Kaya said on her Twitter account that she was being taken to Germany via Nijmegen border with "democratic and humanitarian values trampled underfoot."

Kaya condemned the treatment by Dutch authorities and said: "The whole world should take a stance against such a fascist implementation in the name of democracy."

"This treatment against a woman minister can never be accepted", she wrote.

Earlier, the minister was declared 'persona non grata' and would be deported early Sunday, according to Dutch RTL television.

The move came amid tension after the Dutch authorities barred Turkish envoy from entering the Rotterdam Turkish general consulate and also canceled the Turkish foreign minister's flight permit.

Meanwhile, the public channel NOS TV announced several security guards of the minister were detained.

On Saturday, Dutch government canceled Turkish foreign minister's flight permit and blocked family minister's convoy from entering the Turkish consulate in Rotterdam.

Thousands of people gathered outside of Turkish consulate in support of the family minister, who later left the are with a police escort. Dutch police used guard dogs, batons to disperse the protesters.

The ministers were due to meet Turkish society ahead of April 16 referendum which will see a constitutional amendment.