German, Dutch authorities 'violate' diplomacy

ANKARA (AA) - The head of Turkish Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee on Monday condemned Germany and the Netherlands over the ban on rallies by Turkish ministers ahead of the upcoming constitutional referendum in Turkey, calling for a "return to the path of democracy".

"Last week we saw a disrespectful and anti-democratic interference to these events by the German and Dutch authorities, which is also against the diplomatic intercourse enshrined in the Vienna Conventions on Diplomatic Relations," Taha Ozhan said in a letter addressed to the foreign affairs committees of all European countries except the Netherlands and Germany.

"Especially by preventing first the Minister of Foreign Affairs Mevlut Cavusoglu and then the Minister of Family and Social Affairs Fatma Betul Sayan Kaya, the Dutch authorities have taken the issue to a new anti-democratic and xenophobic level.

"The elected officials and Turkish diplomats with diplomatic immunity were disrespected, and ordinary people who gathered peacefully to show support were assaulted by the security forces. Not only the Dutch authorities showed an unprecedented interference to democratic rights, they also violated severely the diplomatic conventions and traditions," he said.

Ozhan added that the last incident underlined the point of "irrationality" that the European politics had reached against Turkey and the ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party.

"This is another worrying example illustrating the rise of xenophobia and Islamophobia throughout Europe", he said.

Ozhan said the shift of axis in the mainstream politics had brought in "alarming levels of animosity towards multiculturalism and minority communities," adding such practices could only be referred to as "discrimination and fascism".

He called for a return to democracy, and condemnation of the "anti-democratic" attitude of the German and Dutch authorities.

“As Turkey, it is our sincere hope that Europe returns to the path of democracy where rights and freedoms, as well as true practices of politics are respected and protected without succumbing to the pressures of xenophobia and fascism.

"We call on all the Foreign Affairs Committees of the Parliaments throughout EU countries to condemn the anti-democratic practices and narratives of the German and Dutch authorities of the past week so that such unfortunate incidents shall not be repeated."

On Saturday, the Dutch government first canceled the Turkish foreign minister's flight permit to the Netherlands and then blocked a convoy carrying Family Minister Sayan Kaya and forced her to leave the country under police escort.

The ministers had been due to meet Turkish residents ahead of an April 16 referendum on constitutional changes.

When Turkish citizens in 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.

The events have drawn strong criticism from the Turkish government, which, earlier on Monday, sent diplomatic notes to the Netherlands in protest.

Two weeks ago, Turkish government ministers were also barred from holding public rallies in two German cities.

There are approximately 3 million eligible Turkish voters living in Europe.