Every Muslim is a Turk in the eyes of West, Erdoğan claims

ANKARA

President Erdoğan presents the State Pride Award to a family during a ceremony in Ankara. AA Photo

Since the dawn of time every Muslim is a Turk in the eyes of the West, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has claimed, stressing it was not used as a term of superiority but rather as proof grounded in historical evidence.

“In the world, and especially in Europe when the name ‘Muslim’ is said, the people of these lands are brought to mind. The word ‘Turk’ is used only as an ethnic term in our country. In the eyes of the West, since the dawn of time, every Muslim is a Turk,” Erdoğan said in an address on the occasion of a ceremony to present the State Pride Awards to families of fallen soldiers and veterans.

“This is not a term of superiority, but rather a proof grounded in historical evidence. This situation is also a responsibility history has pledged to our people,” he stressed.

After his speech, Erdoğan presented 27 families who reside in Ankara with State Pride Awards.

The ceremony was held in the Presidential Palace with the attendance of Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu; Chief of General Staff Gen. Necdet Özel; deputy prime ministers Bülent Arınç and Yalçın Akdoğan; EU Minister and chief negotiator Volkan Bozkır; Family and Social Politics Minister Ayşenur İslam; Labor and Social Security Minister Faruk Çelik; Youth and Sports Minister Akif Çağatay Kılıç; Interior Minister Sebahattin Öztürk; Education Minister Nabi Avcı; Defense Minister İsmet Yılmaz; Forestry and Water Minister Veysel Eroğlu, as well as commanders from the Armed Forces, and relatives of fallen soldiers and veterans.