Erdoğan slams UAE FM over scandalous statements targeting Ottoman governor, Turks

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan slammed the United Arab Emirates' Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed al-Nahyan after he posted a tweet on his social media accusing Fahreddin Pasha, an Ottoman governor of Medina between 1916 and 1919 of committing crimes against locals and stealing their property.

"The Turks stole most of the manuscripts in the Mahmudiyah library…These are Erdoğan's ancestors and their past with the Arab Muslims," the tweet said.

At a meeting with village headmen at the Presidential Complex in Ankara, Erdoğan said: “You pathetic ones that defame us; where were your ancestors while Fahreddin Pasha was protecting Medina?”

He stated that Fahreddin Pasha was in Medina, not to steal, but to protect the region from occupation and invasion with the sole purpose of becoming a martyr.

Fahreddin Pasha was a commander of the Ottoman army and Medina’s last governor. Dubbed “Lion of the Desert” for his bravery, he defended Muslim cities from Arab tribes, who were cooperating with the British against the Ottomans.

Erdoğan also addressed the issue of Jerusalem, comparing it to last year’s failed coup attempt.

“We defied the coup plotters with our nation on the night of July 15, which is a milestone in our history,” he said. “As it was throughout history, Jerusalem is a benchmark today for the conscience among Muslims and around the world. Our ancestors protected Jerusalem and the whole Muslim geography for a thousand years at the cost of their lives.”

On Dec. 6, Trump announced his decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, sparking angry demonstrations in many Muslim countries and worldwide condemnation.

Jerusalem remains at the heart of the Israel-Palestine conflict, with Palestinians hoping that East Jerusalem -- now occupied by Israel -- might eventually serve as the capital of a Palestinian state.