Pesolution condemning Turkish violence against peaceful protesters passed unanimously
Today, the House Foreign Affairs Committee unanimously adopted House Resolution 354, reported the Armenian Assembly of America (Assembly). H. Res. 354 condemns the violence against peaceful protesters outside the Turkish Ambassador’s residence on May 16, 2017, and calls for measures to be taken to prevent similar incidents in the future. House Foreign Affairs Chairman Ed Royce (R-CA) was joined by Ranking Member Eliot Engel (D-NY), Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA), and Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer (D-MD) in introducing H.Res. 354, requesting "the perpetrators to be brought to justice." On the passage of H.Res. 354, Chairman Royce said: "Armed members of President Erdogan's security detail savagely beat, choked and kicked protesters in an unprovoked assault aimed at silencing these American citizens' right to free speech and assembly. This timely resolution sends a clear signal to the Turkish government that we will not allow any foreign government to stifle the rights of our citizens." H.Res. 354 says that "any Turkish security officials who directed, oversaw, or participated in efforts by Turkish security forces to illegally suppress peaceful protests on May 16, 2017, should be charged and prosecuted under United States law." The Resolution continues: "the United States should take steps to strengthen freedoms for the press and civil society in countries such as Turkey, and combat efforts by foreign leaders to suppress free and peaceful protest in their own countries." Click here to read more about H.Res. 354
