Turkish President calls UAE minister impertinent over Ottoman tweet

ANKARA – President Tayyip Erdogan called the UAE foreign minister impertinent on Thursday after he retweeted accusations that Ottoman forces looted the holy city of Medina during World War One.

Without naming him, Erdogan said UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahayan—who shared a tweet accusing Ottoman troops led by Fakhreddin Pasha of stealing money and manuscripts from Medina in 1916—was ignorant.

"Some impertinent man sinks low and goes as far as accusing our ancestors of thievery ... What spoiled this man? He was spoiled by oil, by the money he has," Erdogan told an awards ceremony at his Ankara palace.

"When my ancestors were defending Medina, you impudent (man), where were yours? First, you have to give account for this," he added. The UAE charge d'affaires in Ankara was summoned to the foreign ministry over the matter, a ministry official said.