Türkiye's first lady receives international award in US

Türkiye's First Lady Emine Erdogan has been honoured by the US Council of Muslim Organizations (USCMO), New York's leading Muslim organization, for her outstanding humanitarian activities.

Five other Muslim women have received the “Outstanding Achievement” Award for their work in science, women's empowerment, journalism, and the fight against COVID-19, according to the Russian edition of the Turkish TV channel TRT.

In particular, Aisha al-Adawiya, the founder of “Women in Islam” organisation, was awarded for her activism in the field of human rights and social justice, and Aisha Mustafaa, who had worked as editor of the weekly newspaper Muslim Journal since January 1989, was awarded for her role in women in society.

Dr Uzma Syed, Chair of the COVID-19 Task Force at the Good Samaritan Hospital in New York, received the award for his work during the COVID-19 pandemic. Tahani Amer, Program Executive at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), was awarded for her contribution to science. Tahera Rahman, a Muslim journalist, who is known as the first full-time hijabi Muslim broadcast newscaster in the United States, was honoured for inspiring young Muslims to pursue journalism.

“I am delighted to be with you at this extremely significant awarding ceremony. I accept this award on behalf of my country, which is the conscience of the world,” Emine Erdogan said at the ceremony.

“Our religion tells us that the best competition between people is competition in good deeds,” she added.

Türkiye’s first lady recalled that, according to the Global Humanitarian Aid Report 2022, Türkiye remains the most generous nation in supporting refugees and internally displaced persons worldwide.

"We have worked to be the first among those who come to the aid of those in need, regardless of their religion, language and race, Emine Erdogan stressed. Türkiye continues to provide humanitarian aid not only bilaterally but also through the UN, and in 2021, the amount reached $7.7 billion - 122 countries including Syria, Somalia and Palestine received aid.

Türkiye is also working to meet the medical needs of those in need, Erdogan said, citing hospitals built in Sudan, Somalia and Bangladesh as examples.

“The experience of Türkiye's humanitarian assistance is much more than foreign policy,” she said.