On September 23, during the United Nations General Assembly side events, the US Council of Muslim Organizations (USCMO) joined Turkish and American Muslim community leaders in New York for a special gala with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan of Türkiye. The event was organized by the Turkish-American National Steering Committee (TASC), UID, MÜSİAD, and Türkiye’s Presidency for Turks Abroad and Related Communities (YTB).
USCMO Secretary General Oussama Jammal and Muslim American community leaders attended the gathering with President Erdoğan, who addressed attendees with a message centered on Muslim unity, solidarity, and the importance of building strong and lasting institutions.
Reflecting on the bonds of the Muslim Ummah, President Erdoğan cited the Prophetic teaching that “the Muslim is the brother of the Muslim,” emphasizing that a Muslim’s life, wealth, and honor are sacred and that Muslims have a responsibility to stand by one another. He urged Muslim communities to turn their shared sense of brotherhood into stronger organization, civic participation, and institutions capable of serving their communities and the societies in which they live.
President Erdoğan also spoke about preserving Muslim identity while participating fully in American society, stressing the distinction between integration and assimilation. He encouraged Muslims to remain rooted in their faith, culture, and shared memory while strengthening their presence in public life, business, academia, and civic institutions.
During the gathering, Secretary General Jammal presented President Erdoğan with a special gift on behalf of USCMO, marking the occasion and USCMO’s continued engagement with Muslim leaders and communities in the United States and abroad.
