Turkey's Protest Against Iranian Media Reports on Erdogan's Visit to Saudi Arabia

In protest against Iranian media reports linking the execution of Sheikh Nimr to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's visit to Saudi Arabia, the Turkish Foreign Ministry summoned the Iranian ambassador in Ankara on Thursday, January 7. According to Reuters, the Foreign Ministry stated in a press release: "We strongly condemn the actions of Iranian state-affiliated media in linking our President's visit to Saudi Arabia with the issue of executions in that country." Last Saturday, Saudi Arabia executed Sheikh Nimr Baqir al-Nimr, a prominent Shia cleric, along with 46 others. The execution of this Shia cleric sparked widespread reactions in Iran and several countries in the region. Following attacks on the Saudi embassy and consulate in Iran, Riyadh severed diplomatic relations with Tehran. In the wake of Saudi Arabia's actions, several Arab countries in the region also cut or downgraded their diplomatic relations with Iran. The Turkish Foreign Ministry's statement emphasized to the Iranian ambassador that the attacks on the Saudi embassy and consulate in Tehran and Mashhad are completely unacceptable and unjustifiable. According to Reuters, last Tuesday, Recep Tayyip Erdogan made a two-day trip to Saudi Arabia and discussed the Syrian crisis and energy cooperation with King Salman bin Abdulaziz. However, one day after the execution of Sheikh Nimr and 46 others in Saudi Arabia, the newspaper 'Jomhouri Eslami', which is managed under the supervision of the Supreme Leader's representative, questioned the timing of Erdogan's visit. The newspaper wrote: "The crime of the Al Saud in martyring Sheikh Nimr, the Arab mujahid scholar, immediately after President Erdogan's visit to Riyadh and his meeting and conversation with King Salman has directed news and analyses towards Erdogan's complicity with the Saudi king." Meanwhile, Erdogan's statements yesterday regarding the executions in Saudi Arabia prompted reactions from state media. The Turkish president said on Wednesday: "Saudi Arabia has decided to carry out the death penalty in its country and acts according to its own laws. Whether we agree with it or not is another matter, but this issue pertains to Saudi Arabia's internal laws." 'Press TV', affiliated with the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting, and several other media close to conservatives criticized Erdogan for not condemning the execution of Sheikh Nimr. In this context, Erdogan considered the recent executions in Saudi Arabia as an internal matter of that country.