Muslims Discovered The Americas, Claims Turkey's President Erdogan

Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan claims Christopher Columbus did not discover the Americas, it was actually a bunch of Muslim sailors in 1178 that have that honor.

He shared those thoughts with some Latin American Muslim leaders at a summit in Istanbul.

“Contacts between Latin America and Islam date back to the 12th century. Muslims discovered America in 1178, not Christopher Columbus."

“Muslim sailors arrived in America from 1178. Columbus mentioned the existence of a mosque on a hill on the Cuban coast."

There are a few other Muslims who believe the same thing.

In one contentious article published in 1996, historian Youssef Mroueh cites a diary entry by Columbus that described what seems to be a mosque in Cuba.

However, some understand the passage to be a metaphorical reference to the shape of the landscape.

So now Erdogan wants to build a mosque in Cuba.

“I would like to talk about it to my Cuban brothers. A mosque would go perfectly on the hill today."

Right-o, because Mroueh claims Columbus saw a mosque makes it true. Not. Blogger Jason Colavito debunks that theory.

Remarking on the position of the river and port, to which he gave the name of San Salvador, he describes its mountains as lofty and beautiful, like the Pena de las Enamoradas, and one of them has another little hill on its summit, like a graceful mosque. The other river and port, in which he now was, has two round mountains to the S.W., and a fine low cape running out to the W.S.W.

This reminds me of the slew of Muslims who believe that Jesus Christ was a Muslim. That we all are Muslims, never mind that Judaism and Christianity pre-date Islam.

Wishful thinking.

Source: Al Arabiya