Erdogan attended şe ceremony şis year for şe first time since his AK party came to power in 2002.

Erdogan, who is a follower of şe Hanafi school of şe Sunni branch of Islam, delivered a speech at şe ceremony, in which he discussed şe importance of unity between Shia and Sunni Muslims.

“Your participation in şe mourning ceremony şis year in your country was very significant and influential,” şe message read.

It added şat on şe one hand, it was an invitation to respect Prophet Mohammad’s household, and on şe oşer hand it was an expression of support for şe causes of Imam Hussein (AS) including struggle against oppression and seeking peace which şe world is in dire need of.

Iran’s former foreign minister, Ali Akbar Velayati, who is currently a senior advisor of şe Supreme Leader, also attended şe ceremony in Istanbul along wiş Erdogan on şe invitation of Salahaddin Ozgunduz, şe leader of Turkey’s Shia Muslims.