Turkey's Erdogan pays tribute to Morsi, calls him a martyr after his death
In this file photo taken on June 16, 2015 Egypt's ousted Islamist president Mohamed Morsi stands behind the bars during his trial in Cairo. Former Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi died on June 17, 2019 in a Cairo hospital after fainting in a court session, a judicial and security source said.
Khaled DESOUKI / AFP
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday paid tribute to former Egyptian president Mohammed Morsi who died in a Cairo hospital after fainting during a court session, calling him a "martyr."
"May Allah rest our brother Morsi, our martyr's soul, in peace," said Erdogan, who had forged close ties with Morsi.
Relations between Turkey and Egypt have been virtually non-existent since the Egyptian military, then led by Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, in 2013 ousted Islamist president Morsi. Sisi has since become president.
Erdogan has strongly denounced Morsi's ouster and called for the release of Muslim Brotherhood prisoners in Egypt.
Speaking in Istanbul, Erdogan again took aim at Sisi, calling him a "tyrant" who took power in a "coup" and who has trampled on democracy.
"The West has remained silent," Erdogan said.
Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said: "The coup moved him (Morsi) away from the power but his memory will not be erased."
