People protest outside the Dutch consulate in Istanbul after the Netherlands barred Turkish ministers from visiting. Video provided by AFP Newslook

A man gestures in front of a flag bearing a portrait of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan as Turkish residents of the Netherlands gather for a protest outside Turkey's consulate in Rotterdam on March 11, 2017. Protests erupted in the Dutch port city of Rotterdam late on March 11 outside the Turkish consulate amid a row with Ankara after Dutch authorities banned the visits of Turkish ministers. About 1,000 people waving Turkish flags gathered on the street leading to the consulate, as tensions rocketed over rallies abroad to help Ankara gain backing for an April referendum vote.(Photo: Emmanuel Dunand, AFP/Getty Images)

Europe has been stripped of its maskand its real face is one of "fascism, racism and Islamophobia," Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Sunday.

Erdogan has been angered by recent bans on rallies planned by Turkish ministers in Germany and the Netherlands. The ministers were scheduled to speak with Turkish expatsahead of a crucial April 16 referendum on constitutional changesin Turkey that would strengthen Erdogan's grip on power.

"The West has thrown off its mask in the past days," Erdogan said Sunday. "What we have seenis a clear manifestations of Islamophobia.I have said that I had thought Nazism was over, but that I was wrong. Nazism is alive in the West."

On Saturday, the Dutch government canceled Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu'sflight permit to the Netherlands, then refused to allowa convoy carrying Turkish Family MinisterFatma Betul Sayan Kaya toenter the Turkish consulate in Rotterdam, instead ushering her to the German border.

"Democracy, fundamental rights, human rights and freedoms... All forgotten in Rotterdam tonight. Merely tyranny and oppression." she tweeted.

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Last week, Turkish ministers were barred from holding public rallies in two German cities.Erdogan accused Germany of "Nazi practices," an accusation that drew a sharp rebuke from GermanChancellor Angela Merkel.

Local French officials in Metz agreed to allow a rally there, saying it did not pose a threat to public safety. That drew a nod from Erdogan, who thankedFrance for not "getting involved in such games."

Dutch leaders say the Turkish rallies could increase tensions days before Dutch elections Wednesday that have drawn international attention. Populist Geert Wilders and his far-right Freedom Party, which has pledged to end Muslim immigration, close the nation's mosques and ban the Koran,haveshown polling strength.

Hundreds of thousands of Dutch citizens have Turkish roots and could have voting rights in both nations. Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said Sunday that he would attempt to repair relations with Erdogan and Turkey.Erdogan said Turkey would watch the election results and decide on its future relationship with the Netherlands.

"If you are sacrificing Turkish-Dutch relations for an election, you will pay the price," Erdogan warned. Hesaid countries that ban his ministersagainst Turkey would soon "learn what international diplomacy is."

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Turkey's president: 'Nazism is alive in the West' - USA TODAY