Erdoğan: Islamophobia is as dangerous as coronavirus

* Photo: Anadolu Agency (AA)

Click to read the article in Turkish

President and ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) Chair Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is currently in the US to attend the United Nations (UN) General Assembly's 76th session tomorrow (September 21).

Ahead of this session where the world leaders will make their annual speeches, President Erdoğan addressed a gathering organized by the Turkish American National Steering Committee (TASC) yesterday.

As reported by the state-run Anadolu Agency (AA), attending the event "A Fairer World is Possible", which is also the title of his recent book, Erdoğan stated that "Turkey is taking a leading role in the fight against Islamophobia on the international platforms" and added:

"We are fighting against a more deadly and sneaky virus. This virus, which is as dangerous as the coronavirus, is called Islamophobia."

"This virus is spreading very quickly in countries that have been portrayed as cradles of democracy and freedom for years," he said.

Erdoğan also noted that "Islamophobia has turned into a trend that disrupts Muslims' daily lives and threatens social peace."

Referring to the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and the UN, among others, "where Turkey has been working on efforts against Islamophobia," President Erdoğan said, "We are [also] backing every kind of effort to eliminate all threats to our religion and our Muslim brothers."

Erdoğan's US visit

Before his address to the world leaders tomorrow, President and AKP Chair Erdoğan briefly visited the soon-to-open "Turkevi Center" located at 821 First Avenue in Manhattan across from UN headquarters. He said the 36-story skyscraper is "a monument of pride that will function not only as a home for Turks but also for the Muslim American community."

In his remarks, Erdoğan also referred to a series of organizations such as the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), People's Defense Units (YPG) and the FETÖ, which is held accountable for the coup attempt in Turkey.

Erdoğan called on "the members of the Turkish American community to continue to inform their American counterparts about the true face of these terror organizations." Erdoğan said, "No matter how big it is, no lie can stand against the sun of truth." (TP/SD)