Turkish American National Steering Committee

Turkey is taking a leading role in the fight against Islamophobia on international platforms, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said on Sept. 19.

"We are fighting against a more deadly and sneaky virus. This virus, which is as dangerous as the coronavirus, is called Islamophobia," Erdoğan said at a gathering organized by the Turkish American National Steering Committee in New York City.

The Turkish president on Feb. 20 said that Ankara is keen to "strengthen" cooperation with Washington following the inauguration of Joe Biden as the new U.S. president.

California Governor Gavin Newsom has denied a parole request by Hampig Sassounian, an Armenian who assassinated a Turkish diplomat in Los Angeles in 1982.  

The announcement came on May 25 with Newsom reversing the Board of Parole Hearings' decision which found Sassounian suitable for parole.