Erdogan Marks 838th Anniversary of Jerusalem’s Conquest, Vows to Defend City

ISTANBUL, Oct 3: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Thursday commemorated the 838th anniversary of the Muslim reconquest of Jerusalem by Salahuddin al-Ayyubi, pledging Turkey’s continued commitment to defending the holy city.

“On the 838th anniversary of the Conquest of Jerusalem, I commemorate with mercy Salahuddin al-Ayyubi, the second conqueror of this holy city, and his heroic soldiers,” Erdogan said in a statement on the Turkish social media platform NSosyal.

He added that Turkey would “fight with determination” for Jerusalem, which he described as “a legacy entrusted to us by the Prophet Muhammad and the prophets who preceded him.”

Jerusalem, home to Masjid al-Aqsa, the first qibla of Muslims, was recaptured by Salahuddin in 1187 after nearly nine decades of Crusader control.

Erdogan’s remarks come amid heightened international focus on the Palestinian cause and renewed scrutiny of Israel’s policies in Jerusalem and Gaza.