The Turkish president, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, has repeated a call on Turks to sell dollars and euros to support the national currency, which has been in freefall over concerns about the economy and deteriorating ties with the US.
On Saturday, Erdoğan urged Turks to help support the lira to win what he described as a “war of independence”.
“If there are dollars under your pillow, take these out,” he told supporters in the north-eastern Turkish town of Ünye. “If there are euros, take these out … immediately give these to the banks and convert to Turkish lira and by doing this, we fight this war of independence and the future.
“Because this is the language they understand.”
A financial shockwave ripped through Turkey on Friday when its currency nosedived over concerns about the country’s economic policies and a deepening row with the US.
Washington and Ankara have been at odds over a wide range of topics – from diverging interests in Syria to Turkey’s ambition to buy Russian defence systems, and the case of evangelical US pastor Andrew Brunson.
Brunson is currently on trial in Turkey for espionage and terror-related charges linked to a failed coup attempt in the country two years ago.
On Saturday, Erdoğan said it was a pity the US was choosing Brunson over its strategic Nato ally.
He also said it was wrong of the US to try to bring Turkey into line with threats, a day after Trump doubled tariffs on steel and aluminium imports from Turkey.
“I am once again calling on those in America: it is a pity that you choose a pastor over your strategic partner in Nato,” he said.