ADNAN OKTAR:Turkish-Islamic Union is a conception that is strongly opposed to racism. 

PRESENTER: Looked at as Turks? 

ADNAN OKTAR: No, since Turkey is the leader, that is how we call it. How else could it be called? Turkey has a spiritual leader, for example Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, right? We speak of Kemalism. But that does not mean racism. Look, Ataturk. The word Ata means father. The father of the Turks. The Turkish-Islamic Union is like that. There is a power, a community, a people that governs the Islamic world. But it does not imply any superiority.

PRESENTER: So, will the other races be Turkish?

ADNAN OKTAR: There are Armenians, Kurds, Laz people, Circassians, Arabs, everything you can think of, Iranians. Let’s say Persian race. They are all servants of Allah and are all equal to one another.e Superiority lies in fear of Allah alone. There is even a hadith from our Prophet (saas), “There is no superiority of Arab over Persian, or of Persian over Arab.” “Superiority lies in fear of Allah alone,” He says. There is therefore no question of race in Islam, only superiority of fear of Allah. Almighty Allah tells us: “The noblest among you in Allah’s sight is the one with the most fear of Allah.” Allah has bestowed leadership on the Turks because they are courageous, of strong character, patient, determined, immune to hardship and loyal. This can now be seen. We are speaking of the leader of this union. Of the Turkish-Islamic Union.

PRESENTER: You mean the Turks will just be the vanguard.

PRESENTER: Kurds or Armenians…

PRESENTER: I am curious as to whether they will regard themselves as Turks.

ADNAN OKTAR: No, we make no such claim. An Armenian will say, “I am Armenian.” They are our very dear brothers. Allah tells us He has created us all as separate peoples. In other words, it is an honor for them. There is nothing unusual in that. An Orthodox person will say, “I am Orthodox.” A Jew will say, “I am a Jew.” And they all have the right to admire their own views, faiths and religion. Jewish friends of mine, rabbis, come and say; “My beliefs are true.” Christians come and say, “Our beliefs are true.” And we say, “For us, Islam is the true faith.” But we are friends and brothers. “Why are we brothers?” some ask. What else are we to say? What are we if not brothers? They do not want me to call them friends either. So am I expected to say enemies, or people we hate? That would be utterly stupid. Rasulullah insisted that the servants of Allah, the People of the Book, innocent people, be treated with love and affection. In the same way we took those innocent people and brought them here in Ottoman times. We settled the Jews here and looked after, fed and protected them didn’t we? So what am I expected to say when these people come here? Should I just call them people? Of course they are my friends and brothers. What harm have they ever done me for me not to call them brothers? “Are we brothers in religion?” “No, we are certainly not brothers in that sense.” We are brothers in humanity and friendship, aren’t we? We are brothers in terms of motherland, insha’Allah. We are not blood brothers, of course. You and I are not blood brothers, but on the level of the motherland everyone is our brother. That is why I say, “my brothers.” Why shouldn’t I? What else should I say? OK, there is that verse about making them patrons, but it does not tell us not to make them our friends. It tells us not to take them as our guides or governors. Of course we could not have a devout Christian as prime minister because he would wish to govern Muslims in the light of his own Christian beliefs. No Muslim would want that. And Allah tells us not to wish it.