US senators fear Turkey may convert tribes to Islam

Two U.S. senators in Montana, together with Pointer Scenic Cruises, have filed an unusual lawsuit against the transfer of Kerr Dam to two Native American tribes, arguing that this could lead to the Turkish government converting the tribes to Islam and even search for nuclear minerals to be used to blow up the dam and other targets.

The lawsuit, filed by state Sen. Bob Keenan, former state Sen. Verdell Jackson and Pointer Scenic Cruises, seeks an emergency order to block the transfer of the Kerr Dam from NorthWestern Energy to the tribes on Montana's Flathead Indian Reservation.

Turkey is an American ally, a member of NATO and has been a key partner in the U.S. counterterrorism efforts in the Middle East, according to the U.S. State Department. The nonprofit Nuclear Threat Initiative says Turkey is active in nuclear proliferation prevention efforts and is a member of all major treaties governing the acquisition and use of nuclear, chemical and biological weapons. Advocates for U.S.-Turkish relations called the lawsuit's claims false, obnoxious and "pure ugly."

"It is quite possible that the Turkish government, sponsored Turkish business enterprises, and affiliated terrorist groups or members may be seeking access to such expertise for possible acquisition and use of incendiary devices to compromise Kerr dam and/or other off-reservation targets," the lawsuit says.

G. Lincoln McCurdy, president of the Turkish Council of America, said the lawsuit has no factual basis for making its assertions against the U.S. ally and called the assertions completely false. "There is interest in developing business with Indian Country. But bringing Islamic values and nuclear arms? That's all totally ridiculous," he said, adding that both President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu are very pious Muslims along with being very practical businesspeople.

McCurdy said the only business development in the region is that the Turkish Council of America has promoted trade in agricultural products and cowhides from Native American tribes to Turkey, though no actual trade has yet been established, McCurdy said. "Turkey and the U.S. are fighting together against Islamic extremism."