Yusuf Islam meets President Erdoğan, praises Turkey
Renowned singer and songwriter Yusuf Islam has praised President Erdoğan and Turkish people for hosting four million refugees, while also inviting Erdoğan to the opening ceremony of Cambridge Mosque.
Duvar English
British singer and songwriter Yusuf Islam has met President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan during a visit to the Turkish capital Ankara.
Islam, who is also the Foundation of Muslim Academics head, invited Erdoğan to the opening ceremony of Cambridge Mosque that is set to take place next month.
He also thanked Erdoğan for his efforts during the construction of the mosque, which was built jointly by the aforementioned foundation and Turkey's Religious Affairs Directorate (Diyanet) Foundation.
Islam, formerly known as Cat Stevens, shared information about his "Peace Train Project," adding that it will kick off from Turkey.
Saying that Turkey has always been a cradle of different civilizations and cultures, Islam praised Mehmed the Conqueror (Fatih Sultan Mehmet) for allowing places of worship for different religions "in a country that's 99 percent Muslim."
The singer also praised Erdoğan and Turkish people for being a home to "over four million refugees."
"The hospitality and benevolence of the Turkish people comes across us in all the areas of life," Islam added, while also giving a mock-up locomotive that carried the name "Peace Train" to Erdoğan as a gift.