‘Nazism is alive in the West’

“account” regardless of an apology and called the Netherlands the “capital of fascism.”

Alain Carton, secretary general of the Metz prefecture, said the rally presented no threat to public order and was permitted in the name of the freedom of assembly.

France’s foreign minister, JeanMarc Ayrault, called for the calming of tensions between some European countries and Turkey. He also urged Turkish authorities to “avoid provocations.”

About 100 supporters draped in Turkish flags greeted Cavusoglu as he reached the Centre des Congres of Metz.

“I am disappointed by Holland because they speak of democracy and freedom but it is not the case. To not allow a speech, it’s sad. We are all disappointed,” said Beatrice Bozkus, a Metz resident who attended the rally.

The Netherlands said Turkish excesses and attempts to campaign here touched at the heart of Dutch citizenship, although hundreds of thousands of residents have Turkish roots and many still feel committed to their ancestral homeland.

“The biggest problem in this case is that Turkey is talking about Turkish citizens who they want to talk to,” Rutte said. “These are Dutch citizens who possibly also have voting rights in Turkey.”

Still, added the prime minister, his government “will keep working to de-escalate where we can. If the Turks choose to escalate, we will have to react, but we will do everything we can to de-escalate.”

On Saturday, Turkey’s family and social policies minister, Fatma Betul Sayan Kaya, was denied entry to the Turkish consulate in Rotterdam, where she was to campaign for the upcoming referendum in Turkey.

After a tense standoff outside the consulate, she was escorted back to the German border.