President of Turkey Erdogan, the continent of America were discovered by Muslims, also said that a mosque should be made to Cuba.

Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s new big idea ! Speaking at the closing ceremony of First Latin American Muslim leaders summit in Istanbul on Nov. 15, Erdoğan slammed colonialism before referring to a controversial claim about the discovery of the Americas.

“Latin America’s contact with Islam dates back to 12th century. Muslims discovered America in 1178, not Christopher Columbus. Muslim sailors arrived in America 1178. Christopher Columbus mentions the existence of a mosque on hill along the Cuba coast. I would talk to my brothers in Cuba and a mosque would suit well on the top of that hill today as well.  It is enough they [Cuban rulers] say okay. Islam had expanded in the American continent even before Columbus arrived,” Erdoğan said on Saturday while speaking in İstanbul at the 1st Latin American Countries Muslim Religious Leaders Summit hosted by Turkey’s Directorate of Religious Affairs.

Cuba, one of the few remaining communist countries in the world and one of the most populated in the Caribbean with a population of 11 million, has a tiny Muslim minority. Muslims in the country have long complained that they have not a place to practice their religion collectively.

Turkish President  Erdogan certaine Also criticized the Muslims. In an apparent reference to US-based Islamic cleric Fethullah Gülen, the Turkish government’s ally-turned-nemesis, Erdogan said “Islam is being abused by Those who use Quran for thei own interests, by Those who open schools abroad.”

“Latin American Muslims should not hesitate to keep in touch with the Diyanet for them are complaints,” he added. Latin America is one of the continents with a network of pro-Gulen schools.

Turkey is known to be willing to build a mosque in the Cuban capital of Havana. A Turkish delegation travelled to Havana earlier this year to seek permission for a mosque in the capital. Turkish media reported last month that Cuban authorities rejected the request submitted by Turkey’s Religious Affairs Foundation.

Meanwhile, the Turkish social media began to produce thousands of jokes on Erdogans Cuba mosque project and claim of discover continent of America.