Qatari artist Abdelsalam al-Qadi has gifted a painting depicting Jerusalem's Dome of the Rock Mosque to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan for the latter's "determined stance" on Muslim causes worldwide.
Al-Qadi told Anadolu Agency that it had taken him three months to complete the work, which he said was comprised of 62,000 crystals and which he described as "one of the biggest in the world".
Noting that it had been "a pleasure" to work on a piece of special significance to Muslims, he said: "I present this painting to President Erdoğan. I hope it will be exhibited by a charity organization and that the revenue will be sent to the families of Palestinian martyrs."
Along with his depiction of the Dome of Rock, al-Qadi also prepared a portrait of Erdoğan containing 30,000 crystals.
"This painting portrays the loyalty of President Erdoğan, who, along with Qatar, has stood up to the many challenges facing the Muslim community," al-Qadi said.
He went on to voice satisfaction with the close and brotherly relations shared between Ankara and Doha.
"On behalf of [Qatari] Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and the Qatari people, I present this gift to President Erdoğan and the Turkish people," he said.
Al-Qadi presented the paintings to Fikret Ozer, Turkey's ambassador to Qatar, who will soon deliver them to the Turkish president.
