Fighting Racism And Islamophobia, Turkish Man Cycles Around Different Countries

JAKARTA - A Turkish man living in Germany has been pedaling his bicycle around the world since 2020, to raise awareness of the scourge of racism and Islamophobia.

Recai Karaca Pak, as the Turkish man is called, explained that racist and Islamophobic news reports against Muslims and Turks in Europe were unfounded.

The 47-year-old engineer departed in August last year and reached Turkey in the sixth week of his journey. After visiting various Turkish provinces for a year, Pak came to Istanbul on October 29.

Speaking to Anadolu Agency about his long journey, Pak said there was a smear media campaign against Muslims and Turks in Europe.

"This situation opens the door for racism. I jumped on a bicycle to raise awareness and departed from Europe for Turkey. I traveled to many European countries and told people that propaganda against Muslims is wrong," he explained quoting Anadolu Agency on November 13.

"The Europeans know Muslims are not against them. They have brotherly relations with Muslims. However, those who don't know Muslims keep their distance because of media propaganda," he explained, adding: "I want to show our humanity and character to those who don't know us."

"Muslims face racism and difficulties in finding work or renting an apartment in many places. Our mosque faces more than 400 attacks per year. The solution is to introduce and express ourselves," Pak said.

Pak said he wanted to tell the whole world about being Turkish, as well as about Turkish culture and the level of racism against Turks and Muslims.

Saying he would travel to Mongolia from Turkey by plane and then return to Turkey on his bicycle, Pak added: "I plan to travel nearly 14,000 kilometers (8,700 miles) by bicycle to the places of our ancestors. We will put up a sign against all kinds of racism wherever we go. A lot of people will accompany me on this journey."