THE First Minister has invited Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to Scotland during a future visit to the UK, sparking controversy due to Turkey's repression of its Kurdish community.
The Herald reported on Thursday that Humza Yousaf had told the leader he should travel to the country next time he's in the UK.
It comes around a month after the two men met at COP28 on December 1, which led to a diplomatic row as it took place without a Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) representative.
The UK Government now requires that Scottish Government engagements with foreign governments are monitored.
READ MORE: Labour address David Cameron's threat to shut Scottish offices abroad
A note, sent to the embassy in Dubai, stated: "FM mentioned he was last in Turkey during Ramadan in 2022 and invited RTE to visit Scotland during a future visit to the UK."
Speaking during a huddle after First Minister's Questions, Yousaf said he would bring up Turkey's human rights abuses including its treatment of the Kurds.
"Yes, I would raise human rights as I tend to do with international leaders and I do of course do that in a way that recognises we are on a human rights journey - as are other countries," he said.
The First Minister went on to say that the UK Government "regularly engages" with Turkey as a Nato ally.
He added: "It’s an important regional player. Why on earth would Scotland not look to seek to engage with a Nato ally and someone we seek to do business and trade with?"
When then pressed about Turkey's treatment of the Kurds and whether he would raise human rights abuses, Yousaf responded: "Yes, I would raise human rights as I tend to do with international leaders and I do of course do that in a way that recognises we are on a human rights journey - as are other countries."
SNP councillor Roza Salih, a Kurdish-born politician, expressed anger after Yousaf's last meeting with the Turkish president.
“I am disappointed and disgusted by this image," she said.
“Our politicians & half of the population are imprisoned by him and you shake his hand.
“I did not expect this from a FM that says he respects human rights.”
Last week, Nadia El-Nakla also revealed that her sister-in-law and their four children managed to escape from Gaza following an intervention by the Turkish government.
Both Yousaf and his spokesperson denied there was "any connection".
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