Turkey-Dutch dispute escalates after officials’ visit blocked

ROTTERDAM, Netherlands — The escalating dispute between NATO allies Turkey and the Netherlands hit a new low Sunday, with a Turkish minister escorted out of the country, less than a day after Turkey’s foreign minister was denied entry, prompting President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to call the Dutch “Nazi remnants.”

The diplomatic clash was over plans by Turkish government officials to campaign in the Netherlands for a referendum back home.

Family and Social Policies Minister Fatma Betul Sayan Kaya had arrived from Germany but was prevented from entering Turkey’s diplomatic compound in Rotterdam. She was sent under escort back to Germany.

The diplomatic clash with Kaya came after Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu was barred from landing in the Netherlands on Saturday and Turkish officials closed off the Dutch Embassy and called its ambassador no longer welcome.

Hundreds of pro-Turkey protesters scuffled with police in Rotterdam.

The Dutch barred Cavusoglu because of objections to his intention to attend a rally in Rotterdam for a referendum on constitutional reforms to expand Erdogan’s powers, which the Dutch see as a step backward from democracy. Turkish officials have been campaigning in European cities with Turkish populations before the April 16 vote.

PETER DEJONG/THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Demonstrators wave Turkish flags Saturday outside the Turkish Consulate in Rotterdam, Netherlands.