Erdogan Marks 838th Anniversary of Salahuddin Ayyubi’s Recapture of Jerusalem

ANKARA – Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Thursday commemorated the 838th anniversary of the recapture of Jerusalem by Salahuddin al-Ayyubi in 1187, vowing to continue defending the holy city’s legacy.

“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 message shared on Turkish social media platform NSosyal.

The Turkish president reiterated his commitment to what he described as a sacred duty, stating: “We will fight with determination for Jerusalem, which is a legacy entrusted to us by our Prophet Muhammad and the prophets who preceded him.”

Jerusalem, home to Masjid al-Aqsa the first qibla of Muslims was liberated by Salahuddin al-Ayyubi in 1187 following the Battle of Hattin, ending nearly nine decades of Crusader control.