Turkey is an influential model, says director of America's Muslim organization

ISTANBUL (A.A) - February 21, 2012 - America's Muslim civil organization's director has said that Turkey was an influential model. Speaking to AA correspondent in Istanbul on Tuesday, Nihad Awad, national executive director for the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), said that Muslim world needed good models regarding peace, reform and democracy. "We appreciate what Turkey has done for Islam and Muslims," he said. 7 million Muslims were living and there were 4,000 Muslim nongovernmental organizations in the United States, Awad said. Islamophobia was widespread in the United States, and there were groups against Muslims there, he said.  Awad said there was misinformation about Islam in the United States, stating that American public must be informed about real Islam. Awad said they appreciated Turkey's effective policy in its region and the world. "Turkey is a very influential model. It is an emerging economy and political power. Many Muslims respect Turkey and regard it as a great model. Many from other religions respect honesty of President Abdullah Gul and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan," he said. Awad said that they hoped that Arab Spring would follow Turkey as a model, stating that Turkey should continue its sound reforms.