Humza Yousaf Defends Invitation to Recep Tayyip Erdogan's Visit to Scotland

First Minister Humza Yousaf has faced scrutiny for extending an invitation to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to visit Scotland.

The invitation was offered at the COP28 summit in December, as revealed by a freedom of information request. The move drew internal criticism from some SNP members, concerned about Erdogan's policies towards Kurds.

Yousaf responded by saying that, if a meeting took place, he would address human rights issues with Erdogan.

This controversy comes along with Yousaf's recent admission of discomfort with the term "national" in the SNP's name due to potential misinterpretation. He emphasized the party's civic nationalism and progressive values on the BBC Radio 4's Political Thinking podcast.

The Scottish Greens, partners in the SNP-led government, particularly criticized the invitation, citing the Turkish regime's human rights record.

The Turkish government, led by Erdogan for over two decades, has been accused by Greens MSP Ross Greer of "ethnic cleansing" and repressing civil liberties. Meanwhile, the Scottish Conservatives questioned the propriety of the invite.

In UK-Turkey relations, Erdogan visited the UK in 2018, meeting then-Prime Minister Theresa May and the Queen. The first minister's invitation aligns with his view that engagement with international leaders, including NATO allies, is vital for trade and diplomacy despite contestations.

Regarding the SNP's controversies, in the backdrop of a police investigation into the party's finances involving former leader Nicola Sturgeon, Yousaf expressed that the party is going through tough times and needs to rebuild trust.

Yousaf also recounted personal stress during a family crisis when his parents-in-law were trapped in Gaza, but did not link this ordeal to his invitation to Erdogan. Additionally, he acknowledged both the positive and negative aspects of his role as first minister.