Senegalese NGO: Erdogan defends Islam like nobody else

By Fatma Esma Arslan

DAKAR, Senegal (AA) - The vice chair of a Senegalese non-governmental organization that had named Turkey's president "person of the year" last week praised him for "defending Islam so openly."

Mame Mactar Gueye of the Jamra organization told Anadolu Agency that this was the first time the group had chosen a figure outside of the West African nation for the title.

"We were 30 people and not one of us objected. We saw that there was no other leader in the world but Erdogan defending Islam so openly," Gueye said.

Erdogan was chosen for his stand against French President Emmauel Macron's remarks targeting Islam and the Muslim Prophet Muhammad, Jamra's statement had said on Sunday when it officially made the announcement.

Erdogan's statements, calling for a boycott of French goods and criticizing Macron, were widely praised in Senegal.

"Up until today, we'd only chosen Senegalese names that benefited this community. But this year, we wanted to do something more international."

"I won't name the other three candidates, but Erdogan was everyone's common choice. This is the first time we've chosen a name outside of Senegal," he added.

Gueye also said that relations between Senegal and Turkey under Erdogan was one based on "win-win," rather than a colonialist approach.

"We'd like to present a gift to President Erdogan on the occasion of choosing him as 'person of the year' but we don't know how we could send it. What we'd prefer is for Erdogan to visit Senegal and be welcomed by a large cheering crowd as we present our gift."