Ahead of Erdogan’s Visit, Van Hollen, Menendez, Rubio Urge Trump to Raise Worsening Human Rights in Turkey

U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), and a group of 16 senators have sent a letter to President Donald Trump ahead of his meeting Tuesday with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Citing the weakening of democratic institutions, stifling of fundamental human rights, and mass arrests and civil society restrictions, the Senators raise concerns over the worsening situation in Turkey under President Edrogan's authoritarian policies after the recent constitutional referendum. The letter also reiterates the importance for the United States to formulate a foreign policy agenda that is congruent with the variety of shared strategic interests and security goals with Turkey, as well as with our commitment to uphold human rights across the world.

"Erdogan and his allies have mounted an assault on the rule of law, particularly using sweeping state of emergency authorities to stifle fundamental rights including free speech, undermine the independence of the judiciary, and quash any opposition to their undemocratic actions," wrote the Senators. "The United States must be candid and consistent in our support of democratic values and respect for human rights for the sake of Turkey's future and our long-term interests in the region. We therefore urge you to make support for Turkish democracy and human rights a priority, both in your meetings with President Erdogan next week and in U.S. policy toward Turkey thereafter."

The letter was also signed by Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), John Boozman (R-Ark.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Cory Gardner (R-Colo.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), John Kennedy (R-La.), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), Thomas Tillis (R-N.C.), Todd Young (R-Ind.).

The full text of the letter is below.

Dear President Trump:

As you prepare to welcome Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to Washington, D.C. next week, we write to express our grave concerns about the continuing erosion of human rights and the dramatic decline of democratic values in Turkey. We urge you to make these issues a priority during your meeting with President Erdogan.

Turkey's democratic identity has long been a part of the U.S.-Turkish relationship and its role in the region. Turkey joined the NATO alliance two years after it held its first competitive election in 1950. Turkey's democracy has been a source of strength for the alliance and a source of stability across the Middle East and the Balkans.

However, over the past several years, Erdogan and his allies have mounted an assault on the rule of law, particularly using sweeping state of emergency authorities to stifle fundamental rights including free speech, undermine the independence of the judiciary, and quash any opposition to their undemocratic actions. They have thrown thousands of Turks in jail, including dozens of journalists, and left many of their citizens and even Americans in Turkey, fearful for their own futures.

We are particularly concerned with the recent constitutional referendum, which suffered from a lack of transparency and lays the groundwork for Erdogan to further undermine democratic institutions. The campaign was held under a state of emergency in a tightly controlled media environment where critical voices from the press and civil society were jailed. Representatives from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, who were tasked with evaluating the legitimacy of the vote itself, assessed that it took place on an "unlevel playing field" and "fundamental freedoms essential to a genuinely democratic process were curtailed."

Journalists continue to be targeted as the Turkish media is subjected to censorship and intimidation by the Erdogan government. According to the Committee to Protect Journalists, in 2016, Turkey was the top jailers of journalist worldwide with at least 81 journalist imprisoned. Reporters Without Borders' 2017 World Press Freedom Index, ranks Turkey 155 out of 180 countries of the worst countries for press freedom.

The government has also increased direct threats against political opposition groups and minority communities including ethnic Kurds under the guise of combatting terrorism. According to media reports, the government has continued its crackdown since the April 16 referendum.

As it is a critical moment for Turkey and the U.S.-Turkish relationship, the United States must be candid and consistent in our support of democratic values and respect for human rights for the sake of Turkey's future and our long-term interests in the region. We therefore urge you to make support for Turkish democracy and human rights a priority, both in your meetings with President Erdogan next week and in U.S. policy toward Turkey thereafter.

Sincerely,