Five Minarets in New York

An Istanbul-based figure on an Interpol list who is ultimately portrayed as innocent. He remains a calm, principled presence amid mounting pressure, with a circle of friends and family that rally to defend him. His case exposes biases within the system and the danger of conflating fear with guilt. The pursuit of Hadji becomes a catalyst for examining justice across borders.

Hadji's wife, a steadfast advocate for his innocence who refuses to abandon him. She helps mobilize support from their circle and embodies the human cost of political fear. Her stance highlights the power of empathy and solidarity across cultures. She remains a moral counterpoint to the enforcement machine surrounding the case.

An American friend and devout Muslim convert who stands with Hadji and becomes a bridge between communities. He embodies calm faith and moral steadfastness, challenging prejudice through quiet, principled action. Marcus represents the possibility of cross-cultural trust in a climate of suspicion.

A Turkish escort fluent in English who accompanies Hadji and becomes a vocal critic of heavy-handed tactics. He grows from a cautious transport role into a defender of Hadji's innocence, urging his fellow agents to question their assumptions. Acar's arc explores loyalty and the cost of pursuing vengeance too far.

The other Turkish escort whose certainty of Hadji's guilt clashes with Acar's doubt. He carries personal history—claims that Hadji is connected to his family’s past—and this fuels a relentless hunt. The twist reveals that Firat's family narrative shapes his pursuit, blurring lines between justice and revenge.

A senior FBI agent whose hostility toward Muslims intensifies the tension across borders. He embodies post-9/11 institutional suspicion and the pressure to deliver results quickly, sometimes at the expense of due process. Becker's stance challenges the other characters to defend fairness against fear-driven policy.