Fifty-four Senators sign letter criticizing Turkey's human rights record
The group led by Sens. Wyden and Rubio want the Biden administration to press Turkey on its domestic policies and actions in Syria. It follows months of criticism of Turkey from both parties in Congress.
More than half of the US Senate has signed a letter urging US President Joe Biden to push Turkey on its human rights record.
Democratic Sen. Ron Wyden of Oregon and Republican Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida wrote the letter, Wyden said in a press release.
In the letter, they allege that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has “marginalized domestic opposition” and “silenced or co-opted critical media outlets.”
They also slammed Turkey for purchasing the Russian S-400 missile defense system and for its conflict with US-backed Kurdish groups in Syria. The senators also cited the treatment of basketball player Enes Kanter. The NBA star and supporter of the Gulen movement is a frequent critic of the Turkish government. Kanter's citizenship was revoked in 2017.
