Skip to main content

Human Rights and Rule of Law in Turkey

Date:
Location:
421 Cannon House Office Building

Announcement

Please join the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission for a briefing on human rights and the rule of law in Turkey.

The few positive steps Turkey made toward democratization last year have been overshadowed by Prime Minister Erdoğan's and his ruling Justice and Development Party's (AKP) growing intolerance of opposition and public protest, and their diminishing respect for the rule of law. A violent crackdown on the peaceful Gezi Park protests, a chain of corruption scandals, legislation granting judiciary oversight to the executive branch, the restrictive internet censorship bill, and the ban on Twitter are all alarming examples of the deterioration of democracy and the rule of law in Turkey. As one consequence of the Turkish government's policy to silence critics, Turkey is currently the world leader on the number of jailed journalists.

The panelists will discuss the rule of law and human rights situation in Turkey in the context of the upcoming local elections, scheduled for March 30, 2014. In addition, the panelists will provide recommendations for U.S. foreign policy in relation to Turkey.

Hosted by:

James P. McGovern
Member of Congress
Co-Chair, TLHRC
Frank R. Wolf
Member of Congress
Co-Chair, TLHRC
Witnesses

Panelists

  • Dr. Howard Eissenstat, Assistant Professor of History, St. Lawrence University
  • Dr. Aaron Lobel, Founder and President, America Abroad Media
  • Dr. Kemal Kirişci, Director, Center on the United States and Europe's Turkey Project, Brookings Institute

Moderator

  • Dr. James Zanotti, Specialist in Middle Eastern Affairs, Congressional Research Service, Foreign Affairs, Defense & Trade Division
Meeting Documents

Video

Contact The Commission

Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission
House Committee on Foreign Affairs
4150 O'Neill House Office Building
200 C Street SW
Washington, D.C. 20515
United States of America

Phone: +1 (202) 225-3599
Fax: +1 (202) 226-6584
TLHRC@mail.house.gov

Accessibility

The Commission seeks to make its events, meetings and hearings accessible to persons with disabilities.

If you are in need of special accommodations, please call (202) 225-3599 at least four business days in advance.

Questions with regard to special accommodations in general (including availability of Commission materials in alternative formats and assistive listening devices, sign language interpretation, etc.) may be directed to the Commission.

Get Commission E-Mail Updates

Please sign up to receive Commission updates, hearing schedules, and the latest news.