Escalation 2017 Dutch–Turkish diplomatic incident

protesters @ consulate general of netherlands in istanbul

on 3 march 2017, dutch prime minister mark rutte got confirmation turkish authorities campaign manifestation planned on dutch territory, on 11 march. day announced on facebook page dutch authorities not cooperate. on 6 march, dutch ministry of foreign affairs received diplomatic mail requesting admission of turkish minister of foreign affairs mevlüt Çavuşoğlu intention of attending campaign meeting. same day, dutch foreign minister bert koenders replied in note verbale such visit not allowed. led series of telephonic contacts between koenders , Çavuşoğlu, between rutte , turkish prime minister binali yıldırım. according Çavuşoğlu, dutch government told him objected visit because feared lead electoral victory of anti-islamic party freedom. dutch government has denied such motive ever communicated Çavuşoğlu. dutch diplomatic sources have indicated Çavuşoğlu offered koenders postpone visit date after dutch elections on 15 march, e.g. 18 march, option refused koenders wanted avoid suggestion of connection between 2 events, fearing might give impression dutch government deliberately escalated situation. alternative ministerial visit mass gathering, dutch authorities offered allow visit of turkish ex-parliamentarians, or Çavuşoğlu visiting closed session. when no consensus reached, dutch made final offer on 10 march: Çavuşoğlu allowed access turkish embassy in hague. accepted turks. dutch demanded no more fifty people invited meeting , session not made public beforehand. while turkey considered condition, third 1 made in evening: names of invited have disclosed beforehand dutch authorities. on 11 march 03:00, added if turkey not accept offer, landing rights might refused. turkey considered unacceptable infringement on sovereignty , deliberate attempt dutch sabotage visit. koenders told dutch press netherlands not facilitate planned visit Çavuşoğlu rotterdam on 11 march, meaning not meet Çavuşoğlu in official capacity , dutch state not provide support in way during planned visit. koenders cited risks public order , security decision, , further stated that, although dutch government did not approve of planned visit, not infringe upon constitutional right of freedom of assembly. Çavuşoğlu dismayed saw dutch ultimatum. publicly requested turkish citizens in netherlands come turkish consulate in rotterdam on 11 march. in interview cnn türk around 09:00 claimed have been threatened netherlands , announced heavy sanctions if visit prevented. koenders watched cnn programme; when heard remarks Çavuşoğlu, said signal , phoned rutte. on 11 march, around 10:00, rutte denied Çavuşoğlu s government plane right land on dutch soil.

mounted police in front of turkish consulate, rotterdam

meanwhile, geert wilders, leader of anti-islamic party freedom, had on 8 march demonstrated against visit in front of turkish embassy in hague, heading small group of party candidates. member of parliament sietse fritsma, held banner words blijf weg! dit ons land ( stay away! our country ). on 11 march, wilders became aware of Çavuşoğlu s remarks; on 11:20 sent tweet many twitter followers re-tweet rutte: don t let turkish minister country; not let him land here . later day, wilders in interview al jazeera claimed pressure party convinced rutte not grant landing rights.

at time, turkish minister of family , social policies, fatma betül sayan kaya, touring germany. visit dutch town of hengelo, close german border, had been scheduled. on 11 march, dutch general intelligence , security service received information kaya try reach rotterdam car. freely cross border because of schengen treaty. crisis centre established on twenty-third floor of rotterdam world port center coordinate police actions. earlier, turkish consul in rotterdam had indicated mayor of rotterdam, ahmed aboutaleb, there no plans such visit. proved impossible contact consul, gave aboutaleb conviction consul knew of kaya s attempt. motorcade intercepted car minister managed drive away. reached small yard @ rear of turkish consulate. dutch police stopped betül sayan kaya s entourage metres turkish consulate building. twenty police officers, forming special forces unit, dienst speciale interventies, masked , equipped body armour , automatic weapons, arrested ten members of kaya s bodyguard, on suspicion of illegally carrying firearms. german source had indicated had obtained german weapons permit. no arms discovered. 2 other men arrested, later proved deventer turkish consul , chargé d affaires of turkish embassy. in principle enjoyed diplomatic immunity. twelve arrested men detained 2 hours , passports seized. stand-off ensued several hours in turkish minister refused leave car. after midnight, special heavy tow truck, lift flatbed, driven yard , prepared vertically hoist 3.5 tonne car on flatbed, minister still in it, transport germany. minister left car , demanded entrance consulate invoking vienna convention on diplomatic relations. dutch police had orders arrest minister if necessary. ultimately, gave in police demands leave country. @ time, many news sources assumed had been declared persona non grata. was, loudly protesting, taken car, black armoured mercedes, masked dutch police officers accompanied police station @ nijmegen near dutch–german border. passport seized. not allowed leave station 1 , half hours, while being reunited ten bodyguards. returned germany under german escort. sporadic rioting occurred among thousand pro-erdoğan protesters had come turkish consulate. met dutch riot police, arrested twelve people violent assault , not following police instructions. kaya s passport returned on 12 march, 18:00, turkish consul. in april 2017, kaya s lawyer said file complaint against dutch government @ court claiming expulsion netherlands illegal because not given written statement of reasons expulsion. however, on 2 may case dropped when transpired kaya had never been formally declared persona non grata , judicial point of view had left netherlands voluntarily.

the dutch actions prompted president erdoğan characterise dutch fascists , remnants of nazism , accuse netherlands of mass murder in srebrenica, resulted in hardening of positions on both sides. rutte called erdoğan s remarks unacceptable , vile falsification of history , , demanded apology.

rotterdam councillor turan yazir, dutch-turkish citizen , supporter of fethullah gülen, granted leave of absence after receiving threats , having details published daily sabah newspaper, accused him of working geert wilders.