US Muslim leaders hail Erdogan for Islamic leadership

By Nilay Kar Onum and Zafer Fatih Beyaz

ISTANBUL (AA) - Leaders of U.S. Muslim community in New York on Sunday applauded President Recep Tayyip Erdogan for his active role that he plays in the Muslim world.

“We need a centralized leadership,” said Siraj Wahhaj, an African-American imam of Al-Taqwa mosque in Brooklyn, New York.

Pointing to the leadership of Erdogan, Wahhaj said: “I have a feeling that the leadership is coming from Turkey."

“We love you here in New York,” he added.

Wahhaj's remarks came during the Turkish American National Steering Committee (TASC) meeting in New York, where Erdogan also delivered a speech.

Osama Jamal, general secretary of the United States Council for Muslim Organizations (USCMO) also hailed Erdogan’s leadership.

“You give us a sense of pride, an honor to meet a president and a leader and […] a wonderful human-being with patience, love, worries and cares for Muslim ummah,” Jamal said.

“You set the bar so high. Many of today’s Muslim leaders will fail to attain. Mr. President, we can see how your country is hosting, supporting and helping other Muslims in Turkey and around the world.

“We can also see how other Muslims countries are killing, injuring and devastating the lives […],” he added.

Turkey will continue to stand by Muslims across the globe, Erdogan said during the same event.

“I am seeing that U.S. Muslim community is becoming more organized every passing day and trying to act in cooperation,” Erdogan said.

“We are part of the Islamic Ummah of 1.7 billion people. The difference between us should never hinder our brotherhood and communication,” he stressed.