Turkey Rules Out Granting Citizenship to Ex-Egyptian President Morsi

ANKARA (Sputnik) – Ankara is not considering granting Turkish citizenship to former Egyptian president Mohamed Morsi, currently under trial at home, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said Thursday.

In May 2015, a criminal court in Cairo sentenced Morsi to death on charges of orchestrating a prison break during 2011 anti-government uprising, that eventually brought him to power. The final confirmation of the sentence has been postponed from June 2 to June 16.

“Such an attempt [granting Turkish citizenship to Morsi] is out of question. No initiative has been shown in this respect,” Cavusoglu told Turkish television.

The Turkish minister added that Ankara cannot recognize the government of Abdel Fattah Sisi, who came to power in a military coup, overthrowing Morsi in 2013.

The Muslim Brotherhood is reportedly exploring the possibility of deporting Morsi, the movement's leading member, from Egypt, for which he has to give up Egyptian citizenship. Under Egyptian law, authorities can deport convicts who hold foreign passports.