ISTANBUL: Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has defended his decision to lay a wreath at the mausoleum of the founder of the Turkish republic, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, during his official visit to the country.
Photos of Anwar at the ceremony in Ankara on Wednesday sparked debate on social media, but he stressed that such gestures were part of diplomatic protocol and should be understood within the proper historical and cultural context.
“While I may personally have differing views on certain reforms implemented during his leadership, such as language and religious policies, this does not diminish his role,” said Anwar during a press conference at the conclusion of his three-day trip to Turkey.