Turkey’s Erdogan slams isolation of Qatar as ‘death penalty’
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has lashed out at the leading Arab countries which severed ties with Doha, slamming the measure as a “death sentence” against the Qatari nation.
“Qatar has showed the most decisive stance against terrorist organisation Daesh alongside Turkey. Victimising Qatar through smear campaigns serves no purpose,” he said during a parliamentary address, using the Arabic abbreviation for the Islamic State (ISIS/ISIL) on Tuesday.
“It is almost like a death sentence has been issued for the country. Cutting of food, pharmaceuticals whatever you can think of the country is being squeezed, the airspace is being closed that is what the country is faced with,” he added.
“Taking action to isolate a country in all areas is inhumane and un-Islamic.”
Erdogan’s support comes after nine countries — including Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates — severed ties with the oil-rich nation citing its alleged support and financing of terrorism.
The Turkish president called on Saudi King Salman to take a leading role in resolving the crisis.
Erdogan also plans to discuss the Qatari crisis with US President Donald Trump in the coming days.
Qatar, which imported vast majority of its food from bigger Gulf Arab neighbours before the diplomatic shutdown, has been cooperating with Iran and Turkey to secure food and water.
