Dutch parliament insists on new travel advice for Turkey

A number of parliamentarians are calling on Minister Bert Koenders of Foreign Affairs to update travel advice for Turkey after a Dutch man was arrested there last week. The Dutch man was arrested for insulting president Recep Tayyip Erdogan on social media. He has since been released, but is still not allowed to leave the country.

The current travel advice for Turkey warns Dutch travelers not to go to where the country borders with Syria. Foreign Affairs also tells Dutch to be alert and avoid demonstrations while in Turkey and points out that a state of emergency is in force in the country.

According to CDA parliamentarian Raymond Knops, the fact that the arrested Dutch man is now banned from leaving Turkey says a lot. "Criticism on Erdogan is seen as being affiliated with Gulen. The Dutch government must insist on free travel and at the same time the travel advice must be reconsidered", he said to newspaper AD.

SP parliamentarian Sadet Karabulut called it a "worrying situation". He calls on Koenders to follow Germany's example and update the travel advice. Germans traveling to Turkey are now warned to be extra careful and to register at the embassy or consulate in advance.

VVD MP Han ten Broeke thinks it "obvious" that Koenders check whether the advice is still sufficient after the Dutch man's arrest and Germany's new stance, he said to AD. He also wants Koenders to bring up the matter during the upcoming EU Foreign Affairs Council.