Turkish rally in Belgium banned over security concerns

The mayor Belgium's Antwerp banned on Tuesday a Turkish rally in one of the city's suburbs due to its threat to public security
Tuesday, 14 March 2017 16:23

The mayor Belgium's Antwerp banned on Tuesday a Turkish rally in one of the city's suburbs due to its threat to public security, making Belgium the next European country to prohibit the Turkish community demonstrations.

The rally was scheduled to take place on Friday, March 17 in the suburban town of Berchem in the anticipation of the Turkey's April referendum.

Antwerp’s authorities reportedly fear clashes between rally participants and members of the Flemish nationalist Vlaams Belang Party, Sputnik reported. The party members had planned to carry out a demonstration against the meeting of the Turkish community representatives on the same date, but the rally was shut down by the authorities.

In early March, Turkish ministers had been barred from speaking to local Turkish communities in several European countries, including Germany and the Netherlands.

The rallies and speeches were aimed at gaining support among Turks eligible to vote in the April 16 referendum on constitutional amendments which would enhance the judiciary and legislative powers of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.