170 members of the US Congress are calling on US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken to ensure that Turkey is held accountable for “gross violation of human rights” and “democratic backsliding.”
In the bipartisan letter, the US Secretary of State is called to adjust Washington’s relationship with Turkey in line with President Erdogan’s conduct.
“While it is in our mutual interest for the United States and Turkey to remain strategic allies and to fix the rifts between them, we believe that changes in the behavior of President Erdogan and his party are vital to rebuilding this relationship,” note the Congress members.
In addition, the letter refers to President Erdogan’s visit to Washington in 2017 during which his security guards attacked and beat peaceful protesters outside the Turkish ambassador’s residence.
The protesters then sued the Turkish government seeking compensation and the case is pending in US courts. In fact, during the same day, President Erdogan’s security guards were involved in clashes even with secret service officers in front of the gate of the Turkish embassy.
The lawmakers’ letter to the US Secretary of State stressed that Erdogan and his party had weakened Turkey’s judiciary, placed political allies in key military posts and intelligence services, and unjustly imprisoned political opponents, journalists and members of minority groups.
Washington has repeatedly expressed its concerns about Turkey’s performance in the areas of human rights and freedom.
It is recalled that just two weeks ago, 54 senators from the Democratic and Republican parties had sent a joint letter to President Biden, asking him to pressure Ankara to put an end to the authoritarian backsliding of Turkey.
Source: ANA-MPA