The Turkish American National Steering Committee (TASC) is a nonprofit organization that advocates for policy aligned with those of controversial Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. TASC campaigns to promote Erdogan’s policy on relations between the United States and Turkey. ¹

TASC has been criticized for its close alignment with President Erdogan, who has faced criticism for his record on human rights and respect for political liberties. ² Erdogan has also been criticized for being an authoritarian president and was previously banned from holding office in Turkey for inciting religious hatred while Mayor of Istanbul. ^{3 4} Erdogan has publicly supported programs of TASC for promoting his policy. ⁵

Background

The Turkish American National Steering Committee is a nonprofit organization founded in 2016 that campaigns in the United States to promote the relationship between Turkey and the United States. TASC has been accused of being an influence group for Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan within the United States, and TASC cofounders include members of Erdogan’s family. ⁶

TASC works with legislators and government agencies from the United States to gain political influence, including to improve the strength of its military. It also campaigns to promote its objectives with American citizens, targeting American citizens who are eligible to vote for candidates who can shift policy with Turkey in a pro-Erdogan direction. ⁷

Alignment with Recep Tayyip Erdogan

Recep Tayyip Erdogan has served as the president of Turkey since 2014 and from 2003 to 2014, he served as Turkey’s prime minister. ⁸ In 1994, Erdogan was elected as mayor of Istanbul, Turkey, and was stripped of his position, banned from holding a political position in Turkey, and imprisoned for four months for inciting religious hatred. ⁹ After being banned, Erdogan helped create the Justice and Development Party, helping Abdullah Gul become elected prime minister and subsequently lifting Erdogan’s ban from holding office. ¹⁰

Erdogan has been described as an authoritarian leader, creating laws to censor journalists, designating opposing political groups as terrorist organizations, and eliminating Turkish citizen’s right to due process. ¹¹ Erdogan has been critical of the United States’ foreign policy related to Israel, calling Israel an illegal, terrorist state and stating Zionism is a crime against humanity. ^{12 13}

TASC is closely aligned with Erdogan’s government and political interests and was cofounded by a member of Erdogan’s family. ¹⁴ In 2017, President Erdogan delivered a speech to TASC at which critics alleged Erdogan’s security detail beat anti-Erdogan protesters. ¹⁵

Activities

The Turkish American National Steering Committee has programs that work with local, state, and federal government agencies in the United States to collaborate on projects that promote the Turkish government’s agenda in the US. This includes programs at colleges and universities that advocate for policy on behalf of the Turkish government. ¹⁶

TASC co-Chair Gunay Evinch criticized President Joe Biden for officially recognizing the systemic murdering of ethnic Armenians as a genocide. Evinch claimed Biden unjustly sided with Armenians and neglected the Turkish-American community with the decision. ¹⁷

In August 2021, Representative Jamaal Bowman (D-NY) was criticized for attending a TASC fundraiser. Bowman, a supporter of defunding the police and other far-left economic and social policies, was called a hypocrite for attending the event for its ties to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, as Erdogan has been criticized for militarizing Turkey’s police force and far-right authoritarianism. Critics of Bowman’s attendance to the event also include how TASC has held protests in support of Erdogan’s authoritarian policy, including in its relationship with the United States. ¹⁸

TASC TV is an American television station that is a project of TASC. It was created to promote the political influence of the Turkish government in the United States to help it build its military influence. Turkish President Erdogan supported the creation of the channel to help overcome what he views as lost political footing in America. ¹⁹

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2. Jones, Dorian. “EU Leaders Warn Erdogan on Human RIGHTS Amid Progress in Talks.” VOA. EU Leaders Warn Erdogan on Human Rights Amid Progress in Talks, September 2, 2021. https://www.voanews.com/a/europe_eu-leaders-warn-erdogan-human-rights-amid-progress-talks/6204230.html.
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