by L. Lavi
Turkey's
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, founder of the Turkish Justice and
Development Party (AKP), has consistently opposed Egyptian President Muhammad
Mursi's July 3, 2013 ouster by Defense Minister 'Abd Al-Fattah Al-Sisi,
branding it a military coup. Erdogan identifies with the Egyptian Muslim
Brotherhood (MB) movement and, in contrast to many leaders of Arab countries
who backed Mursi's removal, supports the MB's call to restore Mursi to the
presidency, and its argument that his removal came as part of a military coup
against a democratically and legitimately elected government.[1]
In his criticism of supporters of Mursi's ouster, Erdogan
did not spare Al-Azhar Sheikh Ahmad Al-Tayeb, saying that history would curse
religious scholars like him.[2]
With the opening of Mursi's trial on November 4, the
Erdogan government again voiced criticism of Egypt's regime and called for
Mursi's release. Additionally, Turkey's ambassador to Cairo denied Arab media
reports that following Mursi's ouster Turkey had hosted meetings of the MB's
global organization.[3]
Erdogan's position against Mursi's ouster generated a
diplomatic crisis between Turkey and Egypt that led Egypt, in November 2013, to
downgrade its relations with Turkey, declare the Turkish ambassador persona non
grata and expel him, and refuse to return its ambassador, whom it had recalled
in August. Prior to this, the Egyptian Foreign Ministry had canceled joint Egypt-Turkey
military maneuvers and scrubbed an agreement to import Turkish cotton.
Additionally, Egyptian security forces shut down the Turkish news agency's
Cairo office. A public campaign to boycott Turkish products and Turkish television
productions was launched in Egypt, and an attorney even filed a lawsuit against
Egyptian President Adly Mansour and Egyptian Foreign Minister Nabil Fahmy demanding
that relations between the two countries be severed.[4]
Ergodan was attacked in numerous articles in the Egyptian
press; they called him narrow-minded and hypocritical, and depicted him as a
leader who strove to be considered moderate and cultured but whose support for
the Egyptian MB revealed his ugly face, his support for terrorism, and his
hatred of democracy and freedom. They also said that his position on Mursi's
ouster was because it signified the fall of the MB regime in Egypt and thus
marked the collapse of his dream of reviving the Islamic caliphate – and also
because he feared that he would suffer a similar fate.
The deterioration in Egypt-Turkey relations also impacted
relations between Turkey and Saudi Arabia that was the first to grant Al-Sisi
diplomatic and economic support once he had removed the MB from power. This
found expression in Saudi press articles, published in both Saudi Arabia and London,
which claimed that Erdogan's position towards Egypt was illogical and derived
from his apprehension that his rule is unstable and his fear that the MB's
plans for the entire region would collapse together with his dream to
reestablish an Islamic caliphate.[5]
However, on the official and diplomatic level, no change was discernible in
Saudi-Turkish relations.[6]
It should be noted that Erdogan's views on Mursi's ouster
are not shared by Turkish President Abdullah Gul, who seeks to maintain normal Turkey-Egypt
relations,[7]
and are opposed by Turkish opposition elements.[8]
This
report discusses the Turkey-Egypt diplomatic crisis and public and press
reactions in Egypt to Erdogan's opposition to Mursi's ouster.
Erdogan:
Mursi Is Egypt's Legitimate President; His Deposers Betray The Islamic World
Since Mursi's removal, Erdogan
has on numerous occasions expressed his anger over it, and has termed it a
military coup. He has said on more than one occasion that he considers Mursi
Egypt's legitimate president and that his position on this stems from his great
respect for the Egyptian people, which elected Mursi by a majority of 52% in
free and fair elections. Free elections, he said, are the only way to decide whether
a ruler or a government will remain in power, and where such an election has
been held, no one person is entitled to infringe on the will of all the others
by removing the elected individual. Erdogan added that the forces behind Mursi's
ouster in Egypt sought to do the same in Turkey with the June 2013 demonstrations
at Istanbul's Taksim Square, but they were unsuccessful.[9] On another occasion, he
said: "If we remain silent over the coup in Egypt, we will have no right
to say a word if in the future the same trap is set for us."[10]
Calling Mursi's
ouster a catastrophe, he wondered how the West could remain silent in the face
of the violation of the democratic principles that it claimed to venerate.[11] He also criticized the
Arab countries' support for Mursi's ouster, saying: "The Islamic world is
like the brothers of the Prophet Joseph, who threw him into the pit; as in the
story of Joseph, Allah will disgrace those who betrayed the Islamic world and
their brothers and sisters in Egypt."[12]
In late
August 2013, Erdogan harshly criticized the Egyptian army and Al-Azhar Sheikh Ahmad
Al-Tayeb, saying that both the army and Al-Azhar institutions had overstepped their
role with their participation in a coup against a legitimate president.[13] On another occasion,
Erdogan argued that Israel was responsible for Mursi's ouster.[14] On November 3, 2013, the
day before Mursi's trial began, Erdogan said at a meeting of his party that
"the Raba'a Al-'Adawiyya sign [depicted below][15] has become a global
emblem of condemnation of oppression, persecution and massacres."[16]
Erdogan flashes Rabaa Al-'Adawiyya sign (source: Al-Watan, Egypt, August 28, 2013)
On November
21, 2013, as he departed for Russia, Erdogan said that he respects Mursi and admires
his opposition to his trial, and added that he has no respect for his
prosecutors. This was the last straw for the Egyptian Foreign Ministry, which
promptly decided to downgrade relations with Turkey.[17]
The
Egypt-Turkey Diplomatic Crisis
Turkey-Egypt diplomatic relations
deteriorated significantly due to Erdogan's position on Egypt's current regime,
to the point where they were downgraded.
The Egyptian
Foreign Ministry first summoned Turkish Ambassador Huseyin Botsali in late
July, and clarified to him that Turkey's statements regarding Egypt deviated
from diplomatic norms and constituted flagrant interference in Egyptian
affairs.[18]
On August 16,
2013, Turkey recalled its ambassador, and at the same time Egypt recalled its own.[19] Egyptian Ambassador 'Abd
Al-Rahman Salah Al-Din said that his return to Turkey would be contingent upon the
results of his country's reevaluation of its relations with Turkey, and that Turkey's
position on Egyptian affairs is more than interference in them but constitutes incitement
of other countries against Egypt. Salah Al-Din added: "Most unfortunately,
the Turkish government is biased towards the MB, even though its relations with
most of Egypt's parties and political and social forces were good."[20]
In early
September 2013, the Egyptian Foreign Ministry announced that although the
Turkish ambassador had returned to Cairo, Egypt's ambassador to Turkey would
return to Ankara only after Turkish interference in Egyptian affairs had
ceased.[21] Similarly, on October 7, Egyptian
President 'Adly Mansour told the London-based daily Al-Sharq Al-Awsat that
the Egyptian ambassador "will not return to Turkey at this time, and will
not [do so] until after the Turkish government acts with responsibility [befitting]
the historic relations between the two peoples and the fraternal
countries."[22]
In late October
2013, it appeared that the Turkish government was softening its tone towards
Egypt, when Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said while on a visit to
Kuwait that because Turkey wanted Egypt to be strong so that it could guarantee
security and stability in the region, it would support any president elected by
the Egyptian people, rather than specific groups or individuals. He clarified
that Turkey's previous criticism of Egypt had stemmed not from disrespect but
from its concern for Egypt.[23] In response, Egyptian
Foreign Ministry spokesman Badr 'Abd Al-'Attey called these statements mere
words, not a formal expression of a position, and added that unresolved problems
with the Turks remained due to Erdogan's statements against the Sheikh of
Al-Azhar and the June 30 revolution – and that these statements called for an
apology. Al-'Attey added that for this reason, the Egyptian ambassador would
not at this point be returning to Ankara.[24]
The Turkish
government's statements on the occasion of the start of Mursi's trial showed
that there was actually no softening in
the Turks' tone vis-à-vis Egypt. In addition to Erdogan's remark that Rabaa Al-'Adawiyya
emblem symbolized the fight against oppression, Turkey's Foreign Ministry
called, in an announcement, for the release of all political prisoners in
Egypt, including Mursi, stating: "Turkey has always stood by the principle
of legitimacy" – that is, it stood by the Mursi government.[25]
In response,
the Egyptian Foreign Ministry called Erdogan's comments "part of a series
of pronouncements and declarations by senior Turkish officials who insisted on
distorting the facts in Egypt and challenging the will of the Egyptian people,"
and added that the Turkish Foreign Ministry's announcement "was a
[further] expression of this and constituted unacceptable interference in Egypt's
internal affairs."[26]
On November
12, the Egyptian Foreign Ministry summoned the Turkish ambassador for a rebuke,
protesting statements by senior Turkish officials that it called "unacceptable
interference in Egyptian affairs";[27] on November 23, it
summoned him again and demanded that he leave the country as "persona non
grata." The ministry stated in an announcement: "The Egyptian Arab
Republic's government has followed with revulsion the Turkish PM's most recent
statements on Egypt's internal affairs, made the day before yesterday [November
21] shortly before he left Moscow. [These statements] constitute a further link
in the chain of his [expressions of] positions and statements that reflect an
unacceptable insistence on challenging the will of the honorable Egyptian
people and mocking its legitimate choices, and constitute interference in the
state's internal affairs. Furthermore, they include lies and distortions of fact..."
The
announcement continued: "Egypt, out of its great esteem for the historic
relations between it and the friendly Turkish people, has repeatedly attempted
to give the Turkish leadership an opportunity to act wisely and to place the
supreme interests of the two countries and the two peoples above narrow
partisan and ideological interests. But [despite this,] this leadership has
gone too far in its unacceptable and unjustified positions – by attempting to
incite the international community against Egyptian interests, by supporting
meetings of organizations seeking to undermine stability in [Egypt – a reference
to the abovementioned meetings of the international MB hosted by Turkey which
Turkey claims did not take place]; and [by making] statements that at the very
least constitute an insult to the popular will that was realized on June 30."
It added that
"in light of the Turkish leadership's continuation of this unacceptable
behavior," the Egyptian government had decided to downgrade its diplomatic
relations with Turkey from the level of ambassador to the level of chargé d'affaire;
to permanently transfer Egypt's ambassador to the Egyptian Foreign Ministry's
general offices in Cairo (i.e. not to return him to Ankara); and to declare the
Turkish ambassador persona non grata and demand his immediate departure from
Egypt. It also clarified: "The Egyptian people and government esteem the
Turkish people and blame the Turkish government for the current state of the relations
between the countries and for its repercussions..."[28]
The Egyptian
Foreign Ministry spokesman noted that relations with Turkey would not be completely
severed and that diplomatic and economic relations would continue, because the
true measure [of the relations between the countries] was Egypt's relationship
with the Turkish people, which opposes Erdogan's position.[29]
Responding to
the Egyptian Foreign Ministry's announcement, Erdogan again flashed the Rabaa
Al-'Adawiyya sign, as he participated in a November 24 conference in the
northern Turkish city of Trebizon. He said: "We always respect, and will
continue to respect, those who honor the will of peoples. The position taken
against our ambassador has led to a parallel measure on our part; we have
instructed their ambassador to leave Turkey by November 29, 2013."[30] The Turkish Foreign
Ministry also declared the Egyptian ambassador persona non grata and downgraded
its relations with Egypt to that of chargé d'affaire, stating: "This
situation grieves us, but the historical responsibility for it is borne by the provisional
Egyptian government that took power in the July 3 coup..."[31]
At the same
time, the deteriorating relations between the two countries found expression in
other areas: In August, around the time when the ambassadors were recalled, the
Egyptian Foreign Ministry announced the cancellation of the annual December joint
naval maneuvers with Turkey.[32] Also in late August, the
Egyptian Agriculture Ministry banned importing cotton from Turkey as well as agricultural
cooperation with it. Senior ministry official Ahmad Rifaat said that the
Egyptian economy would not be harmed by this measure, which, he said, was taken
due to Turkey's interference in Egypt's internal affairs and due to reports of
Turkish support for terrorist operations in Egypt.[33] The following week, it
was reported that Egyptian security forces raided the Cairo offices of the
official Turkish news agency Anadolu and shut them down.[34]
Displays
Of Popular Egyptian Anti-Turkey Protest
Egyptian anger against Turkey was
noticeable on the popular level as well. For example, Egyptian attorney Lutfi
Gayyid Ibrahim filed a lawsuit demanding that Egypt sever diplomatic relations
with Turkey and recall its ambassador from Ankara, to protest Erdogan's interference
in Egypt's affairs.[35] Additionally, throughout
August, demonstrations were held outside the Turkish consul's residence in Port
Said; protestors called on the Turkish government to respect the will of the
Egyptian people and delivered a letter of protest to the consul condemning
Erdogan's position and supporting the roadmap of Egyptian Defense Minister 'Abd
Al-Fattah Al-Sisi. The letter stated: "We are saddened that the Turkish prime
minister is biased towards an Egyptian faction whose failure in running the
country is proven."[36] Demonstrations were also held on November 16
outside the residence of the Turkish ambassador in Cairo.[37]
Demonstrators burn Erdogan's photo during November 16 demonstration outside the residence of the Turkish ambassador in Cairo
In further protest
over Erdogan's support for the MB, private Egyptian television channels,
including CBC, Al-Kahera Wal Nas and Al-Nahar, halted their broadcasts of
Turkish soap operas. CBC manager Muhammad Hani called this a harsh message
reflecting Egyptians' opposition to Turkey's anti-Egypt position, as well as to
Turkey's support for terrorism and the MB.[38] Additionally, Egyptian television
host Neshat Al-Dihi resigned during the live
broadcast of his weekly program on Turkey's official Arabic-language channel
TRT in protest against Erdogan's position; he said that he would have been
ashamed to continue working for the channel in the absence of a formal apology
to Egypt by Erdogan.[39]
At the same
time, popular campaigns for boycotting Turkish products emerged. The Union of
Sufis in Egypt launched such a campaign, calling it "Safeguard Your
Country," to protest against Erdogan's insult to the Sheikh of Al-Azhar. Union
secretary Dr. 'Abdallah Al-Nasser Hilmi said: "We demand that the Turkish
people swiftly remove Erdogan and his government, because this government is
setting Turkey back, and is setting it in a hostile position vis-à-vis fraternal
countries like Egypt and other Arab countries." The Coalition of Egyptian
Sufis announced that it had approached Sufis in Turkey asking that they oppose
Erdogan's position on Egypt as well.[40]
Calls for boycotting Turkish
products also spread via social media:
A Facebook campaign to "Boycott Turkish Goods Because Of Erdogan" (source:Facebook, November 24, 2013)
A campaign to boycott
Turkish products: "Depose Erdogan, the MB agent" (source:Al-Fajr, Egypt, July 19, 2013)
"Boycott them!" (source: Al-Yawm Al-Sabi',Egypt, September 11, 2013)
"For my country's security and stability – boycott Turkish products" (source: Al-Yawm Al-Sabi', Egypt, September 11, 2013)
Articles In
Egyptian Press Against Erdogan's Position On Mursi's Ouster
Al-Ahram Editorial: Erdogan's Position Stems From
His Fear Of Ending Up Like Mursi
The Egyptian press has published
numerous articles condemning Erdogan's position on Mursi's ouster. The official
Egyptian Al-Ahram's August 29 editorial states: "No one knows for
sure what Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan wants from Egypt and its
people. Does he think that it was he who was running their affairs during the
year of MB rule in Egypt? [Did he think] during the rule of ousted president
Muhammad Mursi Egypt that Egypt had become an Ottoman province that belonged to
him...? [Erdogan] is afflicted by a lack of the political balance [that is crucial]
for great statesmen and leaders, especially for a substantial regional power
such as Turkey. Since the removal of his only ally in the region, the
statements coming out of his mouth have been inappropriate for diplomacy, for politics,
or for relations between countries.
"The torrent
of Erdogan's attacks on Egypt included his... assault on the Grand Imam – Al-Azhar
Sheikh Dr. Ahmad Al-Tayeb, the admired and internationally respected religious
scholar. [It would seem] that Mr. Erdogan wanted the entire world to act
according to his narrow view and his blind support of the MB regime. [Erdogan]
did not like the Grand Imam's position and his support for Egypt or the June 30
revolution... We can't help but wonder... about the motives for Erdogan's and
Turkish officials' attack on Egypt and its leaders, that has been continuing
since the June 30 revolution. Does [this attack] stem from the loss of an ally
and fellow member of the international [MB], or from fear of a similar
fate?"[41]
Fortune teller to Erdogan: "Take heed before it is too late. You have no business in Egypt, unless you want to suffer the same fate as the MB" (source: Ahram-canada.com, July 24, 2013)
Erdogan Threatens Egypt's National Security
Another Al-Ahram editorial
states: "It is amazing that the Turkish prime minister persists in his
stubbornness, and continues to destroy Egypt-Turkey relations... Instead of being
concerned about the Arabs' and Muslims' most important problem – the liberation
of Palestine and Al-Aqsa Mosque – Erdogan and his government are sunk in the swamp
of Syria, supporting terrorist organizations, and even following [Sheikh
Yousuf] Al-Qaradhawi and inciting against Egypt and its army. [Additionally,
they are] hosting the global terrorist MB organization, to conspire against
Egypt and its peaceful people..."[42]
Cairo
University political science professor Nourhan Al-Sheikh wrote: "Shortly
before the Arab Spring revolutions, the alliance between Erdogan and the MB was
revealed, and both sides began together to plan how to enable the MB to hijack
the revolutions of our free peoples in Tunisia, Libya, Egypt, Syria, Yemen, and
the rest of the Arab countries... Erdogan and his government blatantly
interfered in Egypt's internal affairs in a way that threatens our national
security by unprecedentedly supporting the MB. Erdogan even took the liberty of
discussing Egypt's internal situation during meetings of the international MB
in Istanbul, and of making decisions that could destabilize Egypt and enable
extremist organizations to carry out terrorist activity in our beloved homeland,
terrorizing Egyptians and killing our innocent civilians and soldiers..."[43]
Egyptian Politicians: Erdogan's Attitude Towards The MB
Reveals His Hatred Of Democracy And Freedom
Columnist and Sadat Democratic
Party head Dr. 'Effat Sadat[44] wrote in the Egyptian daily
Al-Yawm Al-Sabi': "I cannot describe Turkish Prime Minister Recep
Tayyip Erdogan's [reaction] to what happened to the MB in Egypt as anything
other than 'Erdogan-like prostitution.' The Ottoman prime minister refuses to
recognize the popular will that was expressed by protests unprecedented in
history...
"Over the
last decade, Erdogan has tried to present himself as moderate and cultured, and
to this end he licked the boots of the Europeans so they would add his country
to the European Union – which they have so far refused to do. His hopes were
eventually dashed, because of the exposure of his ugly face following the
Egyptian people's June 30 revolution. [At that time,] Erdogan revealed his true
face of hatred of culture, development, democracy, and belief in freedom of
opinion and expression, by supporting the MB's terrorism. He even refused to
recognize an entire people's right to live in honor and freedom. When some of
his countrymen dared to peacefully oppose his policy, he brought them down, with
barrages of gas and bombs, violence, condemnations, and false accusations...
"The
Turkish prime minister did not stop at criticizing the events in Egypt and the
[Egyptian] regime. He turned to insulting the [Egyptian] military, police, and
national leaders, most recently the honorable Grand Imam Ahmad Al-Tayeb, the
Sheikh of Al-Azhar, in a desperate attempt to turn back the clock...
"[Erdogan's]
image of an ascetic Wali [Ottoman ruler], which he is trying to sell us, does
not change [the fact] that Turkey leads the Middle East in prostitution and in alcohol
and drug use. In fact, prostitution is legal in Turkey and is not considered a
crime..."[45]
Egyptian Journalist: Mursi's Ouster Shattered Erdogan's
Caliphate Dream
Ibrahim Khalil, former editor of
the weekly Roz Al-Yousef, wrote: "What the Egyptians did [ousting
Mursi] set fire to the expansion policy of which Erdogan had dreamed of for so
long – as part of which Egypt would be a market for Turkish products. But the
miracle worked by Egyptians on June 30 shamed Erdogan in front of his people.
His support for the MB failed miserably...
"Erdogan's
shock over the end of the MB regime was deep, because he had banked on [the
scenario of] the return of the Ottoman Caliphate, from Egypt to Turkey via Gaza
and Syria, following the fall of Bashar Al-Assad. Erdogan's fantasy might have
led him and his government to the unexpected act of supporting terrorism by smuggling
funds – as was revealed by a complaint submitted to the [Turkish] prosecutor-general,
claiming that the Turkish ambassador [to Cairo] transferred cash to the MB in diplomatic mail pouches..."
Khalil added:
"During the rule of the ousted Muhammad Mursi, the Turkish ambassador was
like a Turkish high commissioner in Egypt. He controlled investments and closed
deals between the Turks and MB businessmen...
"Isn't it
time for the public to take initiative and boycott Turkish goods? The answer is
very simple – Yes... Egyptians should rise to the challenge and take
responsibility for knowing who is a friend and who is an enemy, who is
exploiting their suffering and who rushes to their side in time of trouble – as
the honorable Saudi King 'Abdallah did..."[46]
MB And Its Supporters
Praise Erdogan, Condemn Turkish Ambassador's Expulsion
Prior to his arrest by the new
Egyptian regime, Egyptian MB Freedom and Justice Party deputy leader
Dr. 'Issam Al-'Arian expressed his party's praise for Erdogan's position and for
his refusal to meet with Egyptian leaders who were not elected by the people
but were appointed by the coup's organizers. He added that Erdogan's position
was is in line with democratic principles and constitutional values.[47]
The Egyptian daily
Al-Watan quoted a security source at the Burj Al-Arab prison, where
Mursi is held, as stating that Mursi had criticized the downgrading of Turkey-Egypt
diplomatic relations and had said:
"How can
they do this? Erdogan's statements bother them because he tells the truth. How
can they sever relations between powers like this... with such ease, after I strengthened
Egypt's relations with an important country like Turkey within a short period?"[48]
Mamdouh
Al-Wali, whom Mursi appointed head of Al-Ahram's board of directors and
who was removed from the post following Mursi's ouster, criticized the
downgrading of diplomatic relations, saying that it would negatively impact Egypt's
economic situation. In an article on the MB website, Al-Wali assessed that
Turkey would not keep its promise to increase investments in Egypt to $5
billion, and that it would reverse its intention to grant Egypt favorable
credit terms valued at $1 billion. Al-Wali further assessed that flights and
tourism between the two countries would be affected, as would relations between
the Cairo and Istanbul stock exchanges and joint agreements on health care,
energy, and electricity production.
Al-Wali added:
"It would appear that the damage to many sectors of the economy is the
result of a decision by the coup government to deliberately downgrade
diplomatic relations in order to humiliate the other side, without considering
the negative economic consequences of this rash decision. [Other] countries in
Africa and Europe have refused to recognize the military coup, yet we have not
treated them like we treated Turkey – which is the regional and military power in
the region that supports Egypt."[49]
The Al-Gama'a
Al-Islamiyya organization, which supports the MB, also objected to the expulsion
of the Turkish ambassador, calling it "an unacceptable escalation."
An official in Al Gama'a's Building and Development Party, its political wing,,
said that expelling the Turkish ambassador was not the solution because Egypt
does not need additional rivalries in the world, and called on the Egyptian
regime to reverse its decision. He added that Egypt would have been better off expelling
the Israeli ambassador.[50]
Pro-MB demonstrator: "Don't expel the Turkish ambassador; he is the legitimate ambassador" (source: Al-Ahram, Egypt, November 25, 2013)
*L. Lavi is a research fellow at MEMRI.
Endnotes:
[1]
See MEMRI Inquiry & Analysis No. 994, "The Arab Press:
Support For Mursi's Ouster, Criticism Of Egyptian Army's Undemocratic Move,"
July, 9, 2013.
[2]
Aljazeera.net, August 26, 2013.
[3]
Alarabiya.net, November 6, 2013.
[4] Al-Wafd
(Egypt),
September 16, 2013.
[5] Al-Sharq
Al-Awsat (London), July 17, 2013, July 21,
2013; Al-Riyadh (Saudi
Arabia), July 24, 2013.
[6] Al-Riyadh
(Saudi Arabia),
October 5, 2013.
[7] In
July 2013, Gul sent greetings to Egyptian President 'Adly Mansour on the
anniversary of the Free Officers' Revolution of 1952. Gul's senior advisor
Arshad Hormozlu said, "The channels for dialogue with the new Egyptian
leadership are open," and added, "We don't support one side, but [support]
the Egyptian people that will decide for itself in its own appropriate
way." A source close to Erdogan tried to play down the importance of Gul's
position by saying that the position of president in Turkey is largely
ceremonial. In response to the downgrading of Turkey-Egypt diplomatic relations,
Gul said that he hoped that relations with Egypt would return to normal. Al-Sharq
Al-Awsat (London), July 25, 2013; Al-Wafd
(Egypt),
November 23, 2013.
[8]The
leaders of Turkey's main opposition party, the Republican People's party (CHP),
expressed their opposition to Erdogan's position by visiting Egypt in September
2013, at the invitation of the Egyptian authorities. In a meeting with Egyptian
Foreign Minister Nabil Fahmi, they expressed their
respect for the will of the Egyptian people and noted that their visit was
aimed at repairing the damage caused by Turkey's foreign policy. They also met
with the Sheikh of Al-Azhar to convey their opposition to Erdogan's insult of
him. Al-Ahram (Egypt), September 11, 2013.
[9] Al-Masry
Al-Yawm (Egypt),
July 17, 2013.
[10] Al-Quds
Al-Arabi (London),
August 20, 2013.
[11] Al-Masry
Al-Yawm (Egypt),
July 17, 2013.
[12] Al-Quds
Al-Arabi (London),
August 20, 2013.
[13]Al-Watan (Egypt), August 28, 2013.
[14] Al-Masri
Al-Yawm (Egypt), August 21, 2013.
[15]
The four-fingered gesture, associated with the Raba'a Al-'Adawiyya mosque in
Cairo and the pro-MB sit-down strike that took place there and was violently
broken up by Egyptian forces, has become known throughout the Arab world as a
symbol of support for Musri and the Egyptian MB.
[16]
Alarabiya.net, November 6, 2013.
[17] Al-Ahram
(Egypt),
November 24, 2013.
[18] Al-Ahram
(Egypt),
July 31, 2013.
[19] Al-Masri
Al-Yawm (Egypt),
August 17, 2013.
[20] Al-Masri
Al-Yawm (Egypt),
August 19, 2013.
[21] Al-Ahram
(Egypt),
September 5, 2013.
[22] Al-Sharq
Al-Awsat (London),
October 7, 2013.
[23] Al-Ahram
(Egypt), October 27, 2013.
[24]Al-Ahram (Egypt) October 28, 2013.
[25]
Alarabiya.net, November 6, 2013.
[26] Al-Watan
(Egypt), November 5, 2013.
[27] Al-Masri
Al-Yawm (Egypt), November 12, 2013.
[28]Al-Ahram (Egypt), November 23, 2013.
[29] Al-Masri
Al-Yawm (Egypt), November 24, 2013.
[30]
Elaph.com November 24, 2013.
[31]
Ara.reuters.com November 23, 2013.
[32] Al-Masri
Al-Yawm (Egypt) August 17, 2013.
[33] Al-Misriyoun
(Egypt), August 24, 2013.
[34] Al-Watan
(Egypt), August 30, 2013.
[35] Al-Hayat
(London), July 21, 2013.
[36] Al-Ahram
(Egypt), August 21, 2013.
[37] Al-Ahaly
(Egypt), November 20, 2013
[38] Al-Quds
Al-Arabi (London), August 20, 2013.
[39] Al-Wafd
(Egypt), August 29, 2013.
[40] Al-Watan
(Egypt), August 28, 2013
[41] Al-Ahram
(Egypt), August 29, 2013.
[42] Al-Ahram
(Egypt), November 28, 2013.
[43] Al-Ahram
(Egypt), November 25, 2013.
[44]
The Sadat Democratic Party was founded in 2013 by the nephew of the late
Egyptian president Anwar Sadat, 'Effat Sadat, to replace 'Effat Sadat's
previous party, the National Party of Egypt.
[45] Al-Yawm
Al-Sabi' (Egypt), August 31, 2013.
[46] Roz
Al-Yousef (Egypt), July 27, 2013.
[47]
Ikhwanonline.com, July 19, 2013.
[48] Al-Watan
(Egypt), November 11, 2013.
[49]
Ikhwanonline.com, November 26, 2013.
[50] Al-Masri
Al-Yawm (Egypt), November 24, 2013.
L. Lavi
Source: http://www.memri.org/report/en/0/0/0/0/0/0/7678.htm
Copyright - Original materials copyright (c) by the authors.
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