American Muslim Groups Host Turkey Dictator's Daughter, as Her Father Imprisons and Purges Thousands

Patrick Poole | 7:48 PM on December 26, 2016
Turkey's Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan addresses lawmakers and supporters of his ruling Justice and Development Party at the parliament in Ankara, Turkey, Tuesday, June 11, 2013. A peaceful public demonstration against the redevelopment of a city park has changed into clashes between protesters and police in a test of Prime Minister Erdogan’s authority, and as clashes continue Tuesday, Erdogan made it more than clear that he had come to the end of his tolerance.(AP Photo)

The Muslim American Society (MAS) and the Islamic Circle of North America (ICNA) are hosting their 16th annual conference this week in Chicago.

The guest of honor for today’s events was Sümeyye Erdoğan Bayraktar, daughter of Turkish Islamist dictator Recep Tayyip Erdogan who is currently engaged in a massive purge of politicians, judges,  journalists, doctors, teachers, police officers, and the military.

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Tens of thousands have been arrested on Erdogan’s orders since an aborted coup in July.

The Turkish American National Steering Committee identifies Erdogan as “our President” in its event promotions:

Not everyone in the Muslim community is happy about her appearance, however:

Opposition to a close family member of one of the most active dictators in the world at the moment is understandable.

Turkey currently holds the distinction of the “world’s top jailer of journalists” — as it is imprisoning one-third of all jailed journalists worldwide.

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A new round of journalist arrests was just announced yesterday.

Journalists are not alone being targeted in Erdogan’s continuing purge. In fact, as the Washington Post just reported, Erdogan is having to build 174 new jails to hold all of his purge victims:

Here is a sampling of some of the recent headlines on Erdogan’s purge:

NPR reported just a few days ago that two dozen Turkish military officers stationed at a NATO command in Norfolk, Virginia, have claimed asylum for fear of being returned to Turkey:

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Erdogan’s daughter was not the only featured speaker at today’s MAS-ICNA convention:

That would be this Mohammad Qatanani:

In June 2012, I reported exclusively here at PJ Media on New Jersey Homeland Security documents identifying Qatanani as a Hamas member.

Erdogan has a considerable following among leaders of American Muslim groups.

In September, a number of U.S. Muslim leaders met with Erdogan in New York City while he was in town for the UN General Assembly as his purge of Turkey was progressing.

Attending the meeting were Executive Director of the Zakat Foundation Halil Demir, Executive Director of the Muslim American Society Mazen Mokhtar, theologist and Spiritual Leader of American-Albanian Bektashis Eliton Pashaj, Executive Director of the All Dulles Area Muslim Society Mohamed Magid, Moutasem Atiya of Al Madina Institute, President of the Diyanet Center of America Yaşar Çolak, Ahmed Shehata of the Egyptian American Organization for Democracy and Human Rights, Executive Director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations Nihad Awad, Secretary General of the US Council of Muslim Organizations Oussama Jammal, Executive Director of Muslim Legal Fund of America Khalil (Eric) Meek, Mir Masoom Ali of the Brooklyn Bangladeshi Community, Zahid Bukhari of ICNA, President of the Adams Center Syed Moktadir, National Director of ISNA Sayyid Syeed, Chairman of the TURKEN Foundation Behram Turan, Chairman of the Islamic Relief Khaled Lamada, Ayman Hammous and Lana Safah of the Muslim American Society, Secretary General of ICNA Muhammad Tariq Rahman, Moviz Asad Siddiqi of ICNA Relief, Director of the New Brunswick Islamic Center Sami Catovic, President of the Center for Egyptian-American Dialogue Abdul Mawgoud Dardery, Yasir of Boston Muslim Community, Mohamed Elsanousi and Imrana Umar of the Adams Center, Coordinator for Egyptians Abroad for Democracy Worldwide Mohamed Ismail, President of Helping Hand for Relief and Development Farrukh Raza.

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When Erdogan was in the Washington, D.C., area this past April for the opening of the $110 million mega mosque in Lanham, Maryland, many of these same U.S. Islamic leaders attended and later dined with him.

One of the regular attendees of these meetings with Erdogan has been Nihad Awad, executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), which has become a big fan of Erdogan’s purges:

One notable absence from the MAS-ICNA convention is would-be DNC chairman Rep. Keith Ellison, who was forced to bow out of the event after being hammered by critics in recent weeks over appearances at events with known anti-Semites.

Maybe Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi’s son will be available for next year’s MAS-ICNA convention?

Patrick Poole
For media inquiries, please contact [email protected]

Patrick Poole is a national security and terrorism correspondent for PJMedia. Follow him on Twitter.
Category: HOMELAND SECURITY
Tags: HOMELAND SECURITY

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