[Close to the consulate, a protest of about thousands of Turkish demonstrators continued despite Dutch police used guard dogs and batons to disperse the crowd. AA Photo]
Ankara: Dutch police on Saturday detained Turkish Family and Social Affairs Minister Fatma Betül Sayan Kaya on late Saturday to deport her to Germany after declaring her "undesirable alien", according to Daily Sabah.
TV video showed the standoff between the ministerial convoy and the Rotterdam police, which was translated between an officer and the minister.
After being told to return with her convoy, Kaya retorted sharply, saying "I will go to the consulate building. That is a building belonging to my country and I am a minister of that country."
She continued that "there is no such international practice. I don't accept that decision, I reject it and I won't return to Germany."
Close to the consulate, a protest of about thousands of Turkish demonstrators continued despite Dutch police used guard dogs and batons to disperse the crowd.
Local reports said, the Netherlands barred Turkey's foreign minister from landing in Rotterdam on Saturday in a row over Ankara's political campaigning among Turkish emigres, leading President Tayyip Erdogan to brand the fellow NATO member a "Nazi remnant".
On Saturday, Dutch government canceled Turkish foreign minister's flight permit and blocked family minister's convoy from entering the Turkish consulate in Rotterdam.
The ministers were due to meet Turkish society ahead of April 16 referendum which will see a constitutional amendment.
Turkish foreign ministry asked duty-off Dutch ambassador in Ankara who was on leave not to return 'for a while'.
Dutch police dispersed Turkish citizens who took to the streets to protest police's treatment of Turkish family minister.
In Turkey, hundreds of people flocked to Dutch missions in Ankara and Istanbul to protest the Dutch government's moves.
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan described the move as a measure by "Nazi remnants and fascists".
Ankara: Family Minister Fatma Betul Sayan Kaya minister refused to return to Germany late Saturday after Dutch police asked she leave the Netherlands.
Dutch police blocked Kaya from entering the Turkish consulate in Rotterdam in an argument between the minister and a police officer that was captured on mobile phone video.
"You need to leave the Netherlands. We have a special team for you. We will accompany you,” an officer is seen telling Kaya in remarks translated from another policeman. “You have to follow us in your own vehicle and return to Germany.”
Kaya responded with a demand she be allowed to enter the consulate as she walks toward the building.
”I will enter the embassy. You will let me and I will go to that building. I'm here till you let me. I am not going anywhere,” she said.
Police escalate the situation and threaten arrest. "Other implementations can be made if you do not go. For example they can let you in”, the officer said, meaning detention.
The Turkish minister remained defiant in the face of the threats
"I will be calling out to the whole world from now on. With this anti-democratic practice you are doing,” she said. “You are now in violation of the expression of the freedom of movement and all democratic rights of the Netherlands. This is the embassy of my country and you have to let me get in there.”
The video ends as Kaya returns to her vehicle.
The Dutch government on Saturday canceled the flight permit for Turkish Foreign Minister's Mevlut Cavusoglu and blocked Kaya’s convoy from entering the Turkish consulate in Rotterdam.
The ministers were due to meet Turks ahead of the April 16 referendum on constitutional reform in Turkey.
Meanwhile,
Turkish authorities have sealed off the Dutch embassy and consulate, sources at Turkey’s foreign ministry have said, in the latest incident in a tit-for-tat row between the two countries over Turkish campaigning in Europe.
Turkey also closed off the residences of the Dutch ambassador, charge d’affaires and consul general as tensions between the Nato partners escalated after the Dutch government barred Turkey’s foreign minister from flying to Rotterdam.
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