Turkey to approach human rights court over Netherlands row

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan says two of his cabinet ministers will apply to the European human rights court over their treatment in the Netherlands.

In an interview with A Haber television, Erdogan says the appeals would be made even though he didn’t think the court would rule in favor of Turkey.

He also advises Turks living elsewhere in Europe not to vote for anti-Turkish parties. The Netherlands has a national election on Wednesday.

Erdogan also slams German Chancellor Angela Merkel for siding with the Netherlands in the dispute over Turkish ministers’ campaign rallies in Europe.

Merkel earlier said the Netherlands has her “full support and solidarity” after Turkey’s president used Nazi comparisons to criticize Dutch treatment of Turkish ministers.

Erdogan repeated those terms again in the interview, accusing the Netherlands of “Nazism” and “Neo-Nazism.”

— AP