By Leyla Ataman Koyuncuoglu
ANTALYA, Turkey (AA) - Turkish foreign minister has again criticized the ban on Turkish officials from holding rallies in European countries ahead of Turkey’s constitutional change referendum.
“We will go and meet our citizens,” Mevlut Cavusoglu told representatives of some nongovernmental organizations and mukhtars (neighborhood heads) in Turkey’s Mediterranean province of Antalya.
Cavusoglu said repressing hotels owners or sending police officers to event venues represents “systematic repression”.
Turkish leaders have launched Yes campaign rallies ahead of a historic vote on April 16 on constitutional changes, including the crucial shift to a presidential system of governance in Turkey. Germany and the Netherlands have banned Turkish ministers from addressing their expat community.
The move to ban the rallies has drawn strong criticism from the Turkish government and opposition parties.
“This is unacceptable,” Cavusoglu said, adding: “We will take necessary measures; we are not afraid of anybody.”