Turks in US urge Biden to halt disinformation campaign against Türkiye
U.S President Joe Biden and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, 24 August 2016, Ankara, Türkiye (AP Photo)
The Turkish American National Steering Committee (TASC) sent a letter to U.S. President Joe Biden, expressing concern over a disinformation campaign conducted by certain members of the House of Representatives regarding Türkiye.
The letter, authored by U.S. citizens and TASC members, highlighted that Representatives Christopher Smith and Lloyd Doggett misled some members into drafting a letter, noting that over 300 members did not participate in the disinformation campaign.
The letter emphasized that Türkiye, a member of the Council of Europe and the European Court of Human Rights, also possesses NATO’s second-largest army. It highlighted Türkiye’s leading role in humanitarian missions and noted that it hosts the highest number of refugees in the world.
The letter criticized Smith for distorting criminal cases against Gulenist Terror Group (FETO) terrorist organization members, underscoring the devastation caused by FETO’s attempted coup on July 15.
It stated: “For the American people, Jan. 6 at the Capitol is the same as July 15 for the Turkish people.”
The letter recalled that the U.S. condemned FETO’s coup attempt and emphasized that Smith’s letter was prepared by FETO supporters. It pointed out that the terrorist organization remains a “dangerous entity” for U.S. democracy and that some of its schools in the U.S. have not been closed, leading to continued exploitation.
The letter stated that the Turkish-American community condemns all activities and views of FETO, including its anti-Semitic stance, and called for restraint and thorough investigation.
It concluded: “No member of the House of Representatives or U.S. leader should feel compelled to follow the distorted path of the Gulen cult.”
