(IPT) MUSIAD USA sent letters to several U.S. senators last week protesting sanction[s] the Trump administration’s imposed on Turkey over its continuing detention of American pastor Andrew Brunson. MUSIAD is a businessmen’s association connected with Turkey’s ruling Islamist Justice and Development Party (AKP).
Its close links to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan led FBI agents to question MUSIAD USA’s leaders in 2016 on suspicion they were engaged in political espionage on behalf of the Turkish government. This group also has close links with U.S. Islamists in the U.S. Council of Muslim Organizations (USCMO).
Despite its connection with Turkey’s ruling party, MUSIAD USA remains unregistered under the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA). All who lobby on behalf of foreign governments are required to register under this law.
