The summons was preceded by Ankara slamming Belgium for refusing to prosecute 36 individuals suspected of having ties to the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) deemed a terrorist organisation by Turkey.
The Belgian ambassador to Turkey was summoned by the Turkish Foreign Ministry on 11 March the media outlet TRT Haber reported. The ministry reportedly lodged a protest with the ambassador with regard to a recent decision by Belgian authorities to terminate the case against 36 alleged PKK accomplices. Ankara also expressed its intention to appeal in a bid to avert that decision.