{"id":5873,"date":"2025-10-04T07:39:39","date_gmt":"2025-10-04T07:39:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/paksouch.com\/?p=5873"},"modified":"2025-10-04T07:39:41","modified_gmt":"2025-10-04T07:39:41","slug":"erdogan-vows-continued-struggle-for-jerusalem-on-anniversary-of-salahuddins-historic-victory","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/paksouch.com\/?p=5873","title":{"rendered":"Erdogan Vows Continued Struggle for Jerusalem on Anniversary of Salahuddin\u2019s Historic Victory"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Ankara \/ Jerusalem<\/strong> \u2014 On the 838th anniversary of the recapture of Jerusalem by the legendary Muslim commander Salahuddin Ayyubi in 1187, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan issued a powerful message reaffirming his country\u2019s enduring commitment to the holy city. In a statement released on social media, Erdogan paid tribute to Salahuddin and his soldiers, describing them as \u201cheroes who restored dignity to Jerusalem\u201d and vowing that Turkey would continue to fight for the city with \u201cdetermination and steadfastness.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Remembering Salahuddin Ayyubi\u2019s Legacy<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Erdogan\u2019s remarks were timed to coincide with the annual commemoration of Salahuddin Ayyubi\u2019s liberation of Jerusalem from Crusader rule on October 2, 1187. The recapture, achieved after the famous Battle of Hattin, marked a turning point in medieval history and remains an enduring symbol of Muslim resistance and unity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOn this anniversary,\u201d Erdogan said, \u201cwe honor Salahuddin and his courageous soldiers, whose sacrifice reminds us that Jerusalem is a sacred trust \u2014 entrusted to us by Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and the prophets before him.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Turkish leader\u2019s invocation of Salahuddin is particularly significant, as the Kurdish-born general is revered across the Muslim world for his piety, justice, and military genius. By recalling his legacy, Erdogan sought to highlight the deep historical roots of the Muslim claim to Jerusalem and underscore Turkey\u2019s self-proclaimed role as a protector of the Palestinian cause.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jerusalem\u2019s Historical Crossroads<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Jerusalem is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world and holds central importance for all three Abrahamic faiths \u2014 Islam, Christianity, and Judaism.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n
  • In 638 CE<\/strong>, the city was peacefully captured by the second caliph, Umar ibn al-Khattab, marking the first Muslim rule over the city.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • In 1099<\/strong>, Crusaders seized Jerusalem in a brutal conquest, massacring tens of thousands of Muslim and Jewish inhabitants.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • On October 2, 1187<\/strong>, Salahuddin Ayyubi retook the city, restoring Muslim governance and allowing Christian pilgrims access to holy sites \u2014 a gesture of tolerance that earned him respect even among his foes.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • From that period until 1917<\/strong>, except for a brief interval, Jerusalem remained under Muslim rule, first by the Ayyubids, then the Mamluks, and later the Ottomans.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

    It was only on December 9, 1917<\/strong>, amid World War I, that British forces captured the city from the Ottoman Empire. At the time, Palestine\u2019s Jewish population was around 60,000. But by 1948, at the creation of Israel, that figure had surged to approximately 800,000, fueled by waves of migration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The Road to Occupation<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

    Israel\u2019s founding on May 14, 1948<\/strong> immediately triggered a war with neighboring Arab states \u2014 Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria. Although the Arabs fought to reclaim Palestinian land, Israel emerged victorious, gradually implementing plans to seize control over Jerusalem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      \n
    • 1948<\/strong>: West Jerusalem fell under Israeli control, while East Jerusalem, including the Old City and the Al-Aqsa Mosque, remained under Jordanian rule.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • 1967<\/strong>: During the Six-Day War, Israel captured East Jerusalem and the West Bank, effectively unifying the city under its control.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • 1980<\/strong>: Israel declared Jerusalem its \u201ceternal and undivided capital,\u201d a move condemned internationally and rejected by the United Nations.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

      The U.S. under President Donald Trump further deepened the controversy on December 6, 2017<\/strong>, by recognizing Jerusalem as Israel\u2019s capital. On May 14, 2018<\/strong>, the U.S. embassy was moved from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, a step celebrated in Israel but widely criticized by Palestinians and the international community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Erdogan\u2019s Message in Modern Context<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

      Erdogan\u2019s declaration that Turkey will continue to struggle for Jerusalem reflects both political and religious dimensions of Turkish foreign policy. For years, Erdogan has positioned himself as a vocal defender of Palestinian rights, often clashing with Israel over its treatment of Palestinians and its policies in East Jerusalem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      By linking the present struggle to Salahuddin\u2019s historical victory, Erdogan seeks to inspire a sense of continuity between past and present, casting today\u2019s geopolitical battle as part of a centuries-long defense of Islamic sanctities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      His statement also serves to rally domestic support in Turkey, where the Palestinian cause remains a deeply emotional issue for many citizens. Erdogan\u2019s Justice and Development Party (AKP) has long leveraged this sentiment to strengthen its legitimacy among conservative and religious constituencies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      A Symbol of Muslim Unity<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

      Salahuddin\u2019s liberation of Jerusalem is often remembered not only as a military achievement but also as a symbol of Muslim unity. Historians note that Salahuddin consolidated fractured Muslim territories under his command before confronting the Crusaders \u2014 a lesson that resonates in today\u2019s fragmented Middle East.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Erdogan, by invoking this legacy, appears to be calling for a similar unity in the Muslim world, especially at a time when regional divisions have often hindered a collective response to Israel\u2019s actions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Jerusalem Today<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

      Today, Jerusalem remains one of the world\u2019s most contested cities. Israel controls both East and West Jerusalem, while Palestinians continue to demand East Jerusalem as the capital of a future independent state. International law does not recognize Israel\u2019s annexation, and most countries maintain their embassies in Tel Aviv.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Tensions around the city frequently erupt into violence, particularly around the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, known to Muslims as Haram al-Sharif and to Jews as the Temple Mount. Each flare-up deepens mistrust and reinforces the city\u2019s status as a flashpoint in the broader Israeli-Palestinian conflict.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Conclusion<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

      President Erdogan\u2019s statement on the 838th anniversary of Salahuddin\u2019s victory over the Crusaders is more than a symbolic tribute; it is a pointed reminder of Turkey\u2019s claim to moral leadership in the Muslim world. By pledging to continue the struggle for Jerusalem, Erdogan seeks to keep the Palestinian cause at the forefront of global attention, linking the historical memory of Salahuddin\u2019s triumph with the modern struggle against occupation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      For Palestinians, Jerusalem remains both a city of faith and a symbol of resistance. For Turkey, it represents an enduring responsibility, framed by history, religion, and geopolitics. And for the international community, it remains one of the most complex and unresolved issues of our time \u2014 a city where the past, present, and future collide.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

      Ankara \/ Jerusalem \u2014 On the 838th anniversary of the recapture of Jerusalem by the legendary Muslim commander Salahuddin Ayyubi in 1187, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan issued a powerful message reaffirming his country\u2019s enduring commitment to the holy city. In a statement released on social media, Erdogan paid tribute to Salahuddin and his soldiers, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":5874,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"rop_custom_images_group":[],"rop_custom_messages_group":[],"rop_publish_now":"initial","rop_publish_now_accounts":{"facebook_3859443944190656_828796993651875":""},"rop_publish_now_history":[],"rop_publish_now_status":"pending","footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-5873","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-world"},"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/paksouch.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5873","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/paksouch.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/paksouch.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/paksouch.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/paksouch.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=5873"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/paksouch.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5873\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5875,"href":"https:\/\/paksouch.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5873\/revisions\/5875"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/paksouch.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/5874"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/paksouch.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=5873"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/paksouch.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=5873"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/paksouch.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=5873"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}