Erdogan is desperately trying to get his referendum passed to seize more power. Any chance to appear like a "strong leader" will not be missed even if it means saying outrageous things.

Strange the libs on this site are quiet in this thread.

This the multicultural dream come true...

Erdogan has been a massive disappointment. The first president in decades who isn't a pawn of the military junta, and he decides to be a dictator.

On the other hand, banning rallies looks like a very wrong move. Knee-jerk reactions like that will only help Erdogan by radicalizing moderate European Turks.

Would the 'libs' on this site care to comment? :)

fielder, what are you talking about? Trump's has been supportive of Erdogan and, unlike Obama or Clinton, says that the US has no business telling him or other leaders that they should respect human rights.

Seems like Erdogan wants fellow strongman Wilders to benefit. Banning Turks is a mistake that plays into hands of the extremists. Well done, worked as planned.

Sounds like a conspiracy Hauta. Do you have your tinfoil on?

Why does the word conspiracy even exist if conspiracies never happen?

Fiedler, I noticed your 'pin' on that diplomacy map places you in New Zealand. Do you work nights? (...because your posts are during normal waking hours for North America)

Is it important? I work regular hours. No midnight conspiracies.

'Tis now the very witching time of night,
When churchyards yawn and hell itself breathes out
Contagion to this world. Now could I drink hot blood
And do such bitter business as the bitter day
Would quake to look on. Soft, now to my mother.—
O heart, lose not thy nature, let not ever
The soul of Nero enter this firm bosom.
Let me be cruel, not unnatural.

Shakespeare, thief of Marlowe.

stop it with the mad conspiracies

There are very dark forces in play....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dfqnzCAU8aQ

Those that support globalism only make things worse...

Fiedler, where the wink sign? ;)
Thanks vid made me dumber. Please tell me do this just for the lulz.

do this just for the lulz ;P

Holland police's behaviors helps Erdogan's referendum. Nobody supports their enemy.

Hauta: ''Seems like Erdogan wants fellow strongman Wilders to benefit. Banning Turks is a mistake that plays into hands of the extremists. Well done, worked as planned.''

I think you are actually being serious, so I will comment.
First of all, Wilders is the Dutch politician that is most critical of Erdogan and I don't think they are on good terms after Wilders called Erdogan an 'islamic ape'. Also, while banning Turks may help Erdogan, it won't help Wilders in the polls; if anything, it will prevent angry voters from switching to Wilders.
Lastly, Wilders isn't Erdogans 'fellow strongman'. Please don't compare a hero like Wilders to an islamic ape like Erdogan. :)

Clarification: Wilders is most certainly not a hero, but I second the statement that it's extremely unlikely that Erdogan and Wilders are collaborating on this.
Wilders is the guy saying: "Turks, you are not welcome here."

There are a lot of Turks in Europe. Nobody can expel them.

That's why the majority of people, including me, disapproves of Wilders' rhetoric, based entirely on hate and symbolism without any concrete plans, other than vague promises that are unconstitutional.

As well as economically unviable.

Whoops, not viable :-)

@World, don't you get it? Erdogan and Wilders can both benefit from the same thing even if they hate each other! Erdogan stands up to the west and looks good in Turkey; Wilders rides a wave into power on anti-Turkish feeling. They both win.

Riding a wave of power is not the same as being a strongman.

Riding a wave of power is France yelling 'Guys look! Juggernaut in the east!' and profiting from the panic caused by the Juggernaut. Being a strongman is Turkey supporting Russia.

Holy shit, who ninja +1'ed my post?

steephie, wrt Wilders, populist nationalists tend to come in only one flavor. Maybe Wilders would be different. And certainly if he wins, he should be allowed to take office. However, the world should be very vigilant of his behavior.

Hauta: "Erdogan and Wilders can both benefit from the same thing even if they hate each other!"

By the same token, though, this mutual benefit exists without any need for cooperation, so there's no reason to suspect it, and plenty of reason to think it isn't happening.

fiedler, I don't know what you're smoking. Erdogan's a power-grabbing ass, and his actions are contributing to less multiculturalism, rather than more. The left has no reason to be happy about any of this.

^Seconded