ANKARA: American Muslim Leader In Turkish Parliament

AMERICAN MUSLIM LEADER IN TURKISH PARLIAMENT

Turkish Press
March 6 2007

ANKARA – American Muslim leader Wallace Deen Muhammed, who is
currently in Turkey as a guest of Justice & Development Party (AKP)
deputy Egemen Bagis, called on U.S. President George W. Bush and
other state officials to withdraw from Iraq.

Muhammed and Bagis held a joint press conference at the Turkish
parliament on Tuesday.

Bagis praised Muhammed, saying "he is an outstanding spiritual
and opinion leader for Muslims in the USA," adding that Muhammed
disseminated Islam’s peaceful, modern and democratic message to the
world from the USA.

Bagis noted that Muhammed will support Turkey against the bill on
so-called Armenian genocide in the U.S. Congress.

On the other hand, Muhammed said he is in Turkey for the third time,
noting that he learned a lot about Turkey from his father.

Asked whether he would lobby for Turkey in the U.S. Congress against
Armenian claims, Muhammed recalled that for the first time in USA
a black person was elected a U.S. Congressman, and added that they
would have necessary initiatives to help their all coreligionists.

Upon a question on Iraq, Muhammed said he once supported American
troops in Iraq, however, he now regrets his decision when he saw what
has happened in Iraq.