By Hanife Sevinc
ANKARA (AA) – Deputy Prime Minister Numan Kurtulmus has warned European politicians they will play into the hands of neo-Nazis if are seen as backing racisim and Islamophobia.
In remarks made at a meeting with Turkish businessmen in Ankara on Monday, Kurtulmus harshly criticized the Netherlands and Europe 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.
When Turkish citizens in the Rotterdam peacefully protested these developments, they were met by 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.
