Eurasia And Eme Subcommittee on Europe

Violence Outside the Turkish Ambassador's Residence Eurasia And Eme Subcommittee on Europe

On May 16, 2017, the President of Turkey, Recep Erdogan, was visiting Washington on a formal visit to the United States. During that trip that a group of American protesters that were concerned about the growing repression by the Erdogan regime in Turkey, gathered outside the residence of the Turkish Ambassador to exercise their right, as Americans, to have a peaceful assembly and to express their opinions. Security officers associated directly with President Erdogan, his nominal body guards, broke past police lines and attacked peaceful protesters. At least 11 innocent Americans were bloodied and some of the Turkish security members were so brazen as to also scuffle with U. S. law enforcement personnel who were there trying to tone done the melee. Furthermore, video evidence suggests that President Erdogan looked on as the attack took place. It is hard to believe that well-trained security officials would launch such an attack without the orders of their superior, especially knowing he was going to be there to witness it. The attack by members of the Turkish security service is an affront to the democratic values that are held dear in the United States, and was an act of supreme disrespect to American people, and institutions.