Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission hears testimony alleging mass rights abuses and transnational repression by Turkish government
Summary
Witnesses at a Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission hearing in Washington described widespread arrests, alleged torture, transnational repression of exiles and proposed U.S. policy responses including a reintroduced Transnational Repression Policy Act and expanded sanctions.
Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission Chairman Chris Smith opened a hearing in Washington to "expose and explore ways to mitigate and hopefully end massive violations of human rights by the government of Prime Minister Erdogan against the people of Turkey." Witnesses and commissioners described mass arrests, alleged torture, restrictions on press and religion, and what panelists called a widening practice of transnational repression against critics abroad.
Panelists said the disclosures matter because Turkey is a NATO ally whose internal policies affect U.S. intelligence, diplomatic cooperation and regional stability. "A NATO ally that rejects democratic norms is not just a moral failure. It becomes a strategic liability," the commission heard. Witnesses urged Congress and the State Department to press for measurable improvements and to consider targeted legal tools.
Enes Kanter Freedom, a U.S. citizen and long-time critic of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, told the commission he and many others have faced…
Already have an account? Log in
Subscribe to keep reading
Unlock the rest of this article — and every article on Citizen Portal.
- Unlimited articles
- AI-powered breakdowns of topics, speakers, decisions, and budgets
- Instant alerts when your location has a new meeting
- Follow topics and more locations
- 1,000 AI Insights / month, plus AI Chat
