‘YOU’LL NEVER WALK SAFELY’

Turkish president Erdogan warns Europeans they won’t be safe on their own streets unless Turkey is better treated

Brash leader's comments spark outrage as Turkey's representative to the EU is hauled up to explain threat

Neal Baker

Published: 16:08, 23 Mar 2017
Updated: 16:39, 23 Mar 2017

EUROPE'S streets will not be safe unless Turkey is treated better, the country's brash president has threatened.

Recep Erdogan is in an ongoing feud with German and Dutch leaders who blocked Turkish officials holding mass migrant rallies in their countries.

Turkish strongman president Erdogan at a rally on Thursday. In an earlier speech he gave a veiled threat to European citizensCredit: AP:Associated Press

Erdogan said that Europeans would not be safe if they did not treat Turks betterCredit: AP:Associated Press

Erdogan is holding a series of rallies ahead of a referendum that could see him granted even more powerCredit: AP:Associated Press

In a heated assault, the bullish strongman told gagged Turkish press and fans in Ankara: "If Europe continues this way, no European in any part of the world can walk safely on the streets".

"This Europe is the racist, fascist and tyrannical Europe of the pre-World War Two era", he fumed.

He wants sycophantic supporters to be able to hold rallies on foreign territories to muster support for a referendum that would hand him even more power.

“We, as Turkey, call on Europe to respect human rights and democracy", he said to applause.

Officials are working around the bans in the Netherlands and Germany, which each have a sizeable Turkish migrant population.

Deputy Prime Minister Numan Kurtulmus said events will still be held but will not directly mention the referendum.

Erdogan has called European leaders 'fascists' for not allowing supportive rallies in their countriesCredit: AP:Associated Press

Erdogan said Europe today is in the 'fascist, racist' state it was in in the pre-World War Two eraCredit: AP:Associated Press

A Turkish newspaper last week ran with an image of Angela Merkel mocked up as Adolf Hitler, sparking outrageCredit: Alamy

Erdogan's threats have been met with a frosty reception by European Union leaders.

Turkey's representative to the EU was summoned to explain his president's comments on Thursday afternoon.

EU spokeswoman Maja Kocijancic said: "We would like to receive an explanation regarding the comment by President Erdogan concerning the safety of the Europeans on the streets in the world."

Last week a leading Turkish newspaper carried an image of Angela Merkel dressed as Adolf Hitler.

Germany’s new President, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, said: "President Erdogan, you are jeopardising everything that you, with others, have built".

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