Turkey launches investigation over far-right Dutch politician’s Erdoğan remarks

Turkish prosecutors have launched an investigation into remarks by Dutch far-right politician Geert Wilders calling President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan a “terrorist,”NTV reportedon Tuesday.

The investigation was opened following a Feb. 15 Twitter post by the leader of Netherland’s Party for Freedom, which included a photograph and written insult about the Turkish president, NTV cited the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office as saying.

Erdogan heeft zelfs aangifte tegen me gedaan in Turkije en wil me daar achter de tralies. Het wordt tijd dat Rutte lef toont en de terrorist Erdogan aanpakt, zijn invloed in NL stopt, Turkije uit de NAVO zet en de Turkse ambassadeur uitwijst!#Erdogan #Turkije #Wilders

— Geert Wilders (@geertwilderspvv) February 15, 2021

Wilders’ tweet also called for Turkey’s expulsion from NATO while urging Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte to expel the Turkish ambassador to the Netherlands. 

Spokesman for Erdoğan’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) Ömer Çelik reacted to Wilders’ remarks on Monday,  calling the Dutch politician an  “inhumane fascist’’ in a Twitter post.

Cumhurbaşkanımıza saldıran bu faşist, II. Dünya Savaşı yıllarında yaşasa, şimdi lanetle anılan bir Nazi olurdu. Eğer şu anda Ortadoğu’da yaşıyor olsa DEAŞ mensubu bir katil olurdu. Bu çağda ve bu zamanda Hollanda’da yaşıyor ve insanlık düşmanı çirkin bir faşist oldu. https://t.co/HglcCbnwNi

— Ömer Çelik (@omerrcelik) February 15, 2021

Presidential Communications Director Fahrettin Altun also blasted Wilders over the remarks.

“No word that Geert Wilders and his merry band of neo-Nazis ever uttered has amounted to anything,’’ Altun tweeted.

Wilders, known for his anti-Islam and immigration rhetoric, in October had shared a derogatory cartoon of Erdoğan,sparking backlash from top AKP officials.