Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan sent a video message to the 2020 Muslim American Society (MAS) Convention.

In the video message to 2020 MAS Convention, Erdoğan said: “In the face of attacks against our sacred values, it is the duty of all of us to put aside all our differences and meet on the common ground of Islam. Just as a Muslim does not become unfair; he/she does not allow anyone to bestow hand on their rights, law and dignity, either.”

“I would like to begin with conveying to you the greetings of your 83 million brothers and sisters in Turkey. Through you, I send my greetings and fondness to our brothers, sisters and friends all over the world, the oppressed and the victims who are following our meeting with great enthusiasm,” said Erdoğan, expressing his wish that the 23rd Annual Convention of the Muslim American Society may be successful.

“We have extended our helping hand to all our brothers and sisters in the areas with which we are connected through our hearts”

Pointing out that the humanity is are fighting with a major health crisis, the coronavirus pandemic, President Erdoğan said: “Almost every day, we receive the news of the death of a loved one, a relative, a neighbor or an old friend with whose presence we find peace. As people who know that the life of this world is to be tested with existence and absence, we endure even if the pain of those we lost burns our hearts, and we ask Allah to save us and all humanity from this evil as soon as possible.”

“As believers of a religion that equates falling into despair and hopelessness with blasphemy, we never lose hope, then and now. Believing in the power of solidarity and the blessings of sharing, we continue our fight against the pandemic with determination while taking precautions and submitting to the will. In our belief, every test is also a warning. The pandemic has not only reminded us about our servitude and helplessness but also that the destiny and grief of all humanity, regardless of religion, language, race, color and country, are common. In this process, we, by saying ‘Hayrun nas, men yenfeun nas’, acting from the advice that “the most beloved people to Allah are those who are most beneficial to people”, have mobilized all the possibilities we have for humanity. In addition to meeting the needs of our own citizens, we have also sent medical supplies and equipment without any discrimination to 156 countries and 9 international organizations that made requests to our country. From Palestine to Somalia, from Yemen to Libya, from Rakhine State to Afghanistan, from Guinea to Lebanon to Pakistan, we have extended our helping hand to all our brothers and sisters in the areas with which we are connected through our hearts.”

“We have supported the healthcare professionals fighting against COVID-19 by sending two aircrafts full of medical aids to the United States on April 28 and May 1,” Erdoğan noted.

“In countries described as the cradle of democracy, cultural racism, have grown to such an extent that can no longer be hidden”

“We do help not as a requirement of ‘public diplomacy’ or ‘coronavirus diplomacy’, we do it as a requirement of our belief, faith and, of course, Islam,” underscored Erdoğan, adding that the American Islamic Community had taken a really praiseworthy stance in this process and carried out a wide range of precious works from online psychological support to addressing the needs of elderly people who could not leave their homes due to the pandemic.

“This year, we had to fight not only the COVID-19 virus, but also the “virus of Islamophobia”, which spreads faster,” Erdoğan stated, and said: “In countries that have been described as the cradle of democracy for many years, cultural racism, discrimination, intolerance have grown to such an extent that can no longer be hidden.”

“Islamophobia and xenophobia have turned into a trend that captures the politics, complicates the daily life and directs state policies. In many countries, it has now become ordinary to marginalize Muslims because of their faith, languages, names or appearance.”

“Insulting the sacred has nothing to do with freedom”

Further stressing that he burning of the Quran in Sweden, the tearing of the Quran in Norway, the promotion of cartoons insulting the Prophet in the name of freedom of the press in France are just some of the attacks on our sacred values, Erdoğan recalled the attacks against Muslims in New Zealand, Canada and Chapel Hill.

Underscoring that far-right groups target African and Asian immigrants as well as Turks; Jews as well as Muslims, Erdoğan went on to say: “We see that this ideological fanaticism, which is no different from DAESH or FETO in terms of their mind-set, is gaining more and more ground, even encouraged at the level of the head of state. You are also closely following the dishonor against our Prophet under the guise of freedom of opinion in France in recent days. Insulting the sacred has nothing to do with freedom. Because the thought and insult are two very different things. Treating an insult as an idea is an insult to thought in the first place. Those who pat the backs of those who burn the Quran, those who encourage insults to our Prophet, and those who ignore the attacks against the mosques do all these not in the name of freedom, but to hide the fascism in them. Note that while they put all kinds of attacks against our holy values in the brackets of freedom of thought and press, they cannot tolerate even the slightest criticism about them. Sometimes by threatening, sometimes by scolding the journalists, and sometimes by raiding newspapers with the security forces, they declare their limits to those who damage their interests.”

“It is not suitable for a Muslim to remain silent in the face of injustice and unlawfulness”

Muslim’s current inertia and heedlessness is the main reason why the enemies of Islam and humanity become so reckless, continued the President, and noted that Muslims are divided not only in economy, politics, defense, and diplomacy, but mostly among themselves.

“Whoever despises his brother/sister because of his/her origin, race or skin color, he/she could not grasp the spirit of Islam, the blessed message of our ‘Prophet of Mercy and Grace’. Because we are Muslims, who said, ‘Yes, you are our Lord’ when Allah asked, ‘Am I not your lord?’ before we are Turkish, Arab, Persian, African, Malay, Indian, or American. In the face of attacks against our sacred values, it is the duty of all of us to put aside all our differences and to meet on the ‘common ground of Islam.’ Just as a Muslim does not become unfair; he/she does not allow anyone to bestow hand on their rights, law and dignity, either. Just as a Muslim is not involved in violence, he/she does not allow anyone to violate each other’s rights through blind violence, either. A Muslim is a representative of a mission that takes responsibility for peace, for justice, for the comfort and well-being of entire humanity. A Muslim is the person who indoctrinates confidence in his environment and who is trusted by people for his attitudes and words. It is not suitable for a Muslim to bestow hand on people's lives, property, dignity, or even not to show respect, just because he/she has other religious affiliations. It is not suitable for a Muslim to remain silent in the face of injustice and unlawfulness, regardless of who acts in that way. Turning his/her back on their brother/sister or stabbing his/her brother/sister will never fit a Muslim.”

Erdoğan went on to say: “We are also obliged to protect the laws of the oppressed Syrians, Yemeni children suffering from hunger and disease, and Palestinian orphans. We have to defend the right of Jerusalem, which is the sanctuary of wisdom, honor and pupil of the Islamic Ummah, at the cost of our lives. We, as Turkey, approach the challenges in various parts of the Islamic region extending from Palestine to Libya, Nagorno-Karabakh to Syria in line with such understanding. We stand firmly and solidly against the oppressors; we hold the hand of the oppressed regardless of their identity. While we are fighting a relentless struggle against terrorist organizations, we do not hesitate to show our reaction to the beadledom against our sacred values, either.”

“We are trying to pursue a balanced and fair policy that will set an example for all humanity regarding religious freedoms”

“We are trying to pursue a balanced, fair and self-confident policy that will set an example for all humanity regarding religious freedoms, stated the President, and added: “As we do not interfere with anyone's belief and lifestyle, we guarantee the freedom of worship of all our citizens living in our country. While we have restored the Hagia Sophia Mosque, which had been used as a museum for 86 years, to its original identity, we also do not neglect the restoration of the Sumela Monastery, which is one of the symbols of our country with its 1,600-year-old history.”

Pointing out that as the unity and solidarity among Muslims grow stronger, a much stronger position will be reached in the global arena, Erdoğan said: “I think that this year's convention organized by the Muslim American Society with the theme of ‘Rise up to the Moment’ will contribute to these efforts. I am also happy to see that the Muslim-American community is getting more organized. In fact, today's meeting is one of the biggest indicators of this. I would like you to know that we support the work of Muslim organizations in the US, notably the Muslim American Society, which brings us together today.”

“We gladly follow the close brotherhood that the Turkish community living in the US has developed with other Muslim groups. I would like to remind you of the fact that the Diyanet Center of America in Maryland State, which we inaugurated in 2016, is also at the service of our Muslim brothers and sisters living in the US.”

Erdoğan noted: “Acting in unity and solidarity after the arson against the Diyanet Mosque of New Haven last year, I thank you for your quick response to the attack and your valuable contribution to the repair of our mosque.”

“I would like to express our satisfaction with the fact that the Muslim representatives of the Congress were re-elected in the recent elections,” Erdoğan said, and added: “I hope that the current number of Muslim representatives will gradually increase and thus, the Muslim community will be more visible in Congress and American politics. I would like to state that we, as the Turkish State, are ready to give any kind of support to any initiative and project undertaken by the Muslim-American community in this direction, as it has been before. Before I end my words with these thoughts, I say, May Allah perpetuate our brotherhood and make our love eternal. I believe that the climate of brotherhood formed on the occasion of the 23rd annual convention of the Muslim American Society will give hope and strength to the Islamic Ummah. I wish Allah’s peace, mercy and blessings be upon you, and I entrust you all to Allah. Peace be with you!” (ILKHA)