Posted March 14, 2017 07:18:12

Photo: Tayyip Erdogan was hoping rallies in some European countries could boost support for his referendum. (AP: Presidential Press Service)

Turkey's President Tayyip Erdogan has threatened to impose sanctions on the Netherlands and take it to the European Court of Human Rights over a ban on his ministers speaking at rallies in Dutch cities.

Mr Erdogan, who is seeking support from Turks in a referendum on boosting his powers as president, had previously accused the Dutch Government of acting like "Nazi remnants" for barring his ministers from addressing expatriate Turks to drum up votes.

The row marked another low point in relations between Turkey and Europe, further dimming Ankara's prospects of joining the EU.

It also came as Turkey was caught up by security concerns over militant attacks and the war in neighbouring Syria.

"We will carry out whatever our diplomatic sanctions are ... we will make sure the Netherlands are rapidly held accountable for this," Mr Erdogan said in comments broadcast live on television.

"They use international law whenever it suits them, they make excuses for it. We will go to the European Court of Human Rights as well. Our friends are currently making the necessary preparations."

He did not say whether the Government would also impose economic measures against the Netherlands.

Several European countries, including Holland, have stopped Turkish politicians holding rallies, due to fears that tensions in Turkey might spill over into their expatriate communities.

The Dutch Government barred Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu from flying to Rotterdam on Saturday (local time) and later stopped Family Minister Fatma Betul Sayan Kaya from entering the Turkish consulate there, before escorting her back to Germany.

Protests then erupted in Turkey and the Netherlands.

Reuters

Topics: world-politics, turkey, netherlands