A bipartisan group of 181 US lawmakers sent a letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken, calling on the United States government to elevate human rights in the U.S.-Turkey relationship to address the troubling human rights abuses taking place under Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, according to a press release on Congressman Seth Molton’s official web site.
“Unfortunately, President Erdogan has strained the relationship between our nations,” the letter said. “Strategic issues have rightfully received significant attention in our bilateral relationship, but the gross violation of human rights and democratic backsliding taking place in Turkey are also of significant concern.”
The signatories include the chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs Gregory Meeks (a Democrat from New York) and the Rankin Member Michael McCaul (a Republican from Texas).
The letter underlined that during his term of office Erdoğan weakened Turkey’s judiciary, installed political allies in key military and intelligence positions, cracked down on free speech and free press, and wrongfully imprisoned political opponents, journalists and minorities. According to the letter, in order to restore US-Turkey relations, it is vital to see changes to President Erdoğan and his party’s behavior.
“Since 2016, more than 80,000 Turkish citizens have been imprisoned or arrested and more than 1,500 nongovernmental organizations have been closed to suppress political opposition,” the letter said. “Among those arrested on dubious criminal charges include three Turkish staff employed by the U.S. State Department.”
Members of Congress urged Secretary Blinken to prioritize their cases, including their immediate release and dismissal of all charges, in his engagements with Turkey.
The letter also made reference to the assault of Erdoğan’s bodyguards against protestors during his visit to the US capital back in 2017. “Four of Erdogan’s guards still face charges in the United States for the incident. They remain at large in Turkey,” the letter said.
In a similar move, a bipartisan group of 54 US Senators sent a letter to President Joe Biden on February 9, asking him to press the Turkish government to improve its human rights record.
The post 181 members of Congress call on US government to address human rights abuses in Turkey appeared first on Stockholm Center for Freedom.
from Stockholm Center for Freedom https://stockholmcf.org/181-members-of-congress-call-on-us-government-to-address-human-rights-abuses-in-turkey/
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