President Erdoğan congratulates Jamal on her Eurovision victory
15:54, 16/05/2016, MondayU: Update: 15:57, 16/05/2016, Monday
Yeni Şafak
Turkish president Erdoğan called the Crimean Tatar singer Jamal for an outstanding performance at the Eurovision song contest that made her the winner of prestigious award
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan made a phone call to Crimean singer Jamal to congratulate her on her great victory in the Eurovision-2016 song contest.
During the telephone call, Erdoğan wished the singer every success in her future career.
Jamal expressed her gratitude, saying that she was touched by the Turkish leader's words.
In the 61 Eurovision Song Contest on Saturday night, the Crimean Tatar singer from Ukraine won the highest number of votes with the song "1944," which tells of the tragedy of the Crimean Tatars under Soviet leader Joseph Stalin.
The 32-year-old singer's song won the Eurovision contest at a time when Crimean Tatars claim to be facing similar repression from current Russian leader Vladimir Putin.
Following the announcement of her victory, Jamal said Europe had voted for her song as “they understood and felt" her.
“This victory shows that there is justice. We really deserved that victory because we experienced too much pain," she said, adding that Europe and the world had heard of the “storied history," a reference to the Crimean Tatars' deportation in 1944.
Speaking to reporters, Jamala said she wished they could hold next year's Eurovision in Crimea.
“I would want next year's contest to be held in my motherland, Crimea. Right now, Crimea is occupied," the winner said.
