Dutch PM calls Turkish coup very, very worrying: Dutch Turks take to streets

Supporters of the current regime in Turkey take to the streets. Photo: Ilkan Toprak / Anadolu Agency
Supporters of the current regime in Turkey take to the streets. Photo: Ilkan Toprak / Anadolu Agency

Dutch prime minister Mark Rutte said on Friday evening he is extremely concerned about the situation in Turkey following the attempted military coup.  ‘We don’t yet know exactly what is going on but I am very, very worried,’ Rutte told broadcaster RTL. Rutte is currently in Mongolia for a summit.

Several thousands Dutch Turks gathered outside the Turkish consulate on Friday night, chanting and singing the Turkish national anthem. Some called on Rutte to distance himself from the coup.

According to broadcaster NOS, a group of youths attacked one of its camera crews, hitting a camera man and damaging a car. ‘There is a strong anti-western media sentiment here,’ reporter Robert Bas said.

Police were drafted in and the crowd eventually broke up and went home. Rotterdam has a large Turkish community and some 70% are said to have voted for president Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s AK party in the April election.

There was a smaller demonstration in Deventer, NOS said.

Failed

International news agency AP said on Twitter: ‘An official in the Turkish president’s office says at least 60 people were killed in an attempted coup.‘ According to the BBC, F16 fighter jets and tanks have been seen close to the presidential palace in Ankara.’

Several reports have also said the coup appeared to have failed. The national broadcaster was back on air and president Erdogan, who had been out of the country, had returned  to Istanbul.

Kari Piri, who represents the Labour party in the European parliament said he was ‘extremely anxious’ when he heard Erdogan uring Turks to resist and take to the streets. ‘This at a time when the military have told people to stay indoors.’

Geert Wilders, leader of the anti-Islam PVV said on Twitter: ‘I hope Erdogans islamofascist regime is finished. The sooner the better.’

Indoors

However Erdogan told CNN via a moible phone connection Turkey later: ‘We can restore this situation. Our nation must come together on squares to resist this rebellion,’ he said. ‘And those behind the coup will pay a high price.

The elections left Turkey a divided nation, with half supporting the president and the other half strongly opposed.

Thank you for donating to DutchNews.nl.

We could not provide the Dutch News service, and keep it free of charge, without the generous support of our readers. Your donations allow us to report on issues you tell us matter, and provide you with a summary of the most important Dutch news each day.

Make a donation