,,ii  #aaf? ,,congress  #a/ ,session    
,s4 #bhcb  ,,9 ,,! ,,s5ate ,,( ,,!      
,,unit$ ,,/ates  ,novemb] #ab1 #bjai,mr4
 ,m>key 7= himself & ,mr4 ,wyd57        
introduc$ ! foll[+ bill2 :i* 0 read     
twice & ref]r$ to ! ,committee on ,=eign
 ,relations  ,a ,,bill  ,to assi/ ^?    
subject to politically motivat$ *>ges 9 
,turkey1 & = o!r purposes4  #a4 ,%ort   
title ,?is ,act may be cit$ z ! ,turkey 
,human ,rights ,promotion ,act ( #bjai4 
#b4 ,f9d+s ,congress makes ! foll[+     
f9d+s3 7#a7 ,! ,unit$ ,/ates values its 
long/&+ alliance ) ! ,republic ( ,turkey
 & its fri5d%ip ) ! p ( ,turkey1 & seeks
 to promote _! democratic aspirations4  
7#b7 ,actions tak5 by ! ,gov]nm5t (     
,turkey 9 ! aft]ma? ( ! attempt$ c\p (  
,july #bjaf h significantly exp&$ !     
gov]nm5t's crackd[n on fre$oms (        
expression1 peaceful assembly1 &        
association4 ,fre$om ,h\se assess$      
,turkey to be n free 9 its ,fre$om 9 !  
,_w #bjai report4  7#c7 ,s9ce ,july     
#bjaf1 ,turki% au?orities h deta9$ t5s (

 ?\s&s ( p !y accuse ( aid+ ! c\p       
attempt or be+ affiliat$ ) a militant   
gr\p1 sweep+ up j\rnali/s1 opposition   
politicians1 dissid5ts1 & o!rs4 ,a      
two-ye> /ate ( em]g5cy re/rict$ !       
ex]cise ( fundam5tal fre$oms1 & laws &  
decrees !n codifi$ "s provisions f !    
/ate ( em]g5cy4  7#d7 ,! ,m9i/ry (      
,ju/ice report$ t1 betwe5 ,july #bjaf & 
,july #bjah1 inve/igations h be5 op5$   
into #fab1cdg p]sons alleg$ to be       
f\nd]s1 executives1 or memb]s ( arm$    
organizations4 ,a majority ( ^! 7       
report$ly deta9$1 (t5 ) little due      
process or access to ! evid5ce und]ly+ !
 accusations aga9/ !m4  7#e7 ,by ! end (
 #bjah1 accord+ to ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,/ate's
 #bjah ,human ,rights ,report1          
au?orities _h dismiss$ or susp5d$ m ?an 
#acj1jjj civil s]vants f _! jobs1 arre/$
 or imprison$ m ?an #hj1jjj citiz5s1 &  
clos$ m ?an #a1ejj nongov]nm5tal        
organizations 7,n,g,os7 on              
t]rorism-relat$ gr\nds s9ce ! c\p       
attempt1 prim>ily = alleg$ ties to cl]ic

 ,fe?ullah ,gul5 & 8 movem5t1 accus$ by 
! gov]nm5t ( ma/]m9d+ ! c\p attempt4    
7#f7 ,! ,unit$ ,nations ,human ,rights  
,c\ncil's ,work+ ,gr\p on ,arbitr>y     
,det5tion1 9 its ,op9ion ( ,augu/ #af1  
#bjai1 f\nd ! ,gov]nm5t ( ,turkey's     
det5tion ( judges ,melike ,gksan &      
,mehmet ,fatih ,gksan to be arbitr>y &  
noted a significant increase 9 ! numb] (
 cases br\ght to x 9 ! la/ two ye>s     
conc]n+ arbitr>y det5tion 9 ,turkey4 ,! 
,work+ ,gr\p /at$ t x appe>s t a patt]n 
is em]g+ :]eby ^? ) alleg$ l9ks to !    
,gul5 movem5t are be+ t>get$ on ! basis 
( _! political or o!r op9ion4  7#g7     
,turkey rema9s ! _w's wor/ jail] (      
j\rnali/s1 accord+ to ! ,committee to   
,protect ,j\rnali/s4  7#h7 ,presid5t    
,recep ,tayyip ,erdoan began a crackd[n 
on j\rnalism be=e ! #bjaf c\p attempt1  
:i* he !n int5sifi$4 ,! ,committee to   
,protect ,j\rnali/s e/imat$ t ,turkey 0 
hold+ at lea/ #fh j\rnali/s 9 jail at ! 
end ( #bjah4 ,accord+ to a ,septemb]    
#ah1 #bjai1 jo9t /atem5t by civil       

society organizations1 at lea/ #ahj m$ia
 outlets h be5 =cibly clos$ s9ce ! c\p  
attempt4 ,kurdi%-language &             
,kurdi%-focus$ m$ia outlets are         
especially vuln]able4 ,an unkn[n numb] (
 j\rnali/s rema9 outside ! c\ntry due to
 fe> ( arre/4  7#i7 ,! release (        
employees ( ! ,cumhuriyet newspap] is a 
welcome yet insuffici5t /ep t[>ds end+ !
 p]secution ( ! press 9 ,turkey4  7#aj7 
,! ,gov]nm5t ( ,turkey has also t>get$  
writ]s & academics4 ,( r\ghly #b1jjj    
academics :o sign$ a ,janu>y #bjaf      
petition call+ = a re/>t to peace       
negotiations betwe5 ! gov]nm5t & ! arm$ 
,kurdi/an ,work]s' ,p>ty 7,,pkk71 m ?an 
#gjj s*ol>s 7 crim9ally *>g$ ) mak+     
propag&a = a t]rori/ organization4      
7#aa7 ,! ,gov]nm5t ( ,turkey cont9ues   
its unju/1 two-ye> det5tion ( civil     
society lead] ,osman ,kavala4 ,turki%   
au?orities h *>g$ ,kavala & #ae o!rs )  
attempt+ to ov]?r[ ! gov]nm5t or to     
prev5t x f p]=m+ its duties bas$ on     
ill-f\nd$ accusations reg>d+ ! gr\p's   

role 9 #bjac prote/s4  7#ab7 ,9 #bjag1  
,turki% police arre/$ ,amne/y           
,int]national ,turkey's bo>d *air1 ,tan]
 ,kili1 & its director1 ,idil ,es]1 *>g+
 !m z memb]s ( a t]rori/ organization4  
,! *>ges aga9/ ,kili 7 bas$ on ! m]e    
allegation1 lat] f\nd to be false1 t he 
_h d[nload$ a messag+ application4      
7#ac7 ,! ,gov]nm5t ( ,turkey cont9ues   
its unju/ det5tion ( ,selhatt9 ,demirta1
 a ,kurdi% politician deta9$ ) o!r      
memb]s ( ! ,p's ,democratic ,p>ty       
7,,hdp7 on ,novemb] #d1 #bjaf4 ,he 0 a  
memb] ( p>liam5t at ! "t ( 8 arre/ =    
alleg$ly c>ry+ out t]rori/ propag&a by  
speak+ 9 support ( peace negotiations ) 
! ,kurdi/an ,work]s' ,p>ty4 ,! ,european
 ,c\rt ( ,human ,rights rul$ 9 ,novemb] 
#bjah t 8 det5tion _h pursu$ ! pr$om9ant
 ult]ior purpose ( /ifl+ pluralism &    
limit+ fre$om ( political debate1 :i* 0 
at ! v core ( ! concept ( a democratic  
society4  7#ad7 ,fair trial rights &    
protections = lawy]s h be5 re/rict$ j z 
!y are mo/ critically ne$$ giv5 mass    

det5tions & ! wid] crackd[n on diss5t4  
,! ,gov]nm5t ( ,turkey has t>get$       
lawy]s1 ) p>ticul> focus on crim9al     
def5se lawy]s1 prosecut+ !m = dis*>g+ _!
 pr(essional duties & associat+ !m1 )\t 
evid5ce1 ) ! alleg$ crimes ( _! cli5ts4 
,police h also intimidat$ lawy]s &      
ob/ruct$ _! "w4  7#ae7 ,! ,gov]nm5t (   
,turkey heavily re/ricts & c5sors !     
int]net4 ,! gov]nm5t has block$ ov]     
#bbj1jjj websites1 has tempor>ily block$
 ,twitt] & ,you,tube1 has block$        
,wikip$ia s9ce #bjag1 & is n[ pressur+  
,netflix & o!r onl9e /ream+ plat=ms to  
c5sor cont5t accord+ to rules set by !  
,radio & ,television ,supreme ,c\ncil4  
7#af7 ,turkey ranks among ! c\ntries ) !
 highe/ numb] ( cont5t removal reque/s  
s5t to ,twitt] & ,facebook1 accord+ to !
 companies' transp>5cy reports4  7#ag7  
,! ,gov]nm5t ( ,turkey has demon/rat$ a 
disreg>d = fundam5tal fre$oms beyond    
,turkey's bord]s1 includ+ 9 ! ,unit$    
,/ates4 ,9 #bjaf1 memb]s ( ,presid5t    
,erdoan's security detail engag$ 9      

unw>rant$ viol5ce aga9/ j\rnali/s       
report+ on an ev5t at ! ,brook+s        
,in/itution4 ,dur+ ,presid5t ,erdoan's  
,may #bjag visit to ,wa%+ton1 ,,dc1     
individuals f ! ,turki% ,embassy gr\nds 
pu%$ pa/ ,di/rict ( ,columbia police    
(fic]s to brutally attack individuals   
demon/rat+ peacefully 9 opposition to   
policies ( ! ,gov]nm5t ( ,turkey4  7#ah7
 ,! ,gov]nm5t ( ,turkey has abus$       
int]national in/itutions to t>get       
diss5t]s1 trigg]+ a flood ( ,int]pol r$ 
notice reque/s to deta9 critics abroad1 
accord+ to ,fre$om ,h\se4 ,t>gets       
include ,enes ,kant]1 a pr(essional     
basketball play] & vocal critic (       
,presid5t ,erdoan :o curr5tly resides 9 
! ,unit$ ,/ates4  7#ai7 ,on ,octob] #ad1
 #bjai1 ! ,gov]nm5t ( ,cambodia         
report$ly arre/$ educator ,osman ,k>aca 
at ! behe/ ( ! ,gov]nm5t ( ,turkey4 ,on 
,octob] #ai1 #bjai1 ,amne/y             
,int]national w>n$ t if he is =cibly    
return$ to ,turkey1 he faces a v real   
risk ( ill-treatm5t & fur!r human rights

 abuses4 ,cambodia has an obligation to 
protect him f p]secution1 n collude 9 8 
abuse4 ,k>aca is n[ report$ly 9 ,turki% 
cu/ody4  7#bj7 ,! ,gov]nm5t ( ,turkey   
?reat5s to escalate int]nationally its  
t>get+ ( critics consi/5t ) an ov]ly    
broad dome/ic c\nt]t]rorism campaign4   
,on ,octob] #cj1 #bjai1 ,presid5t       
,erdoan /at$1 ,"s c\ntries elim9ate     
t]rori/s :om !y consid] z a ?reat to _! 
national security1 :]ev] !y are4 ,!re=e1
 ?is means ^? c\ntries accept ,turkey   
has ! same "r4 ,?is includes ! t]rori/s 
!y %ake h&s ) & praise4 ,he add$ t he   
hop$ to deliv] good news on ! matt]     
soon4  #c4 ,def9itions ,9 ?is ,act3 7#a7
 ,political prison] ,! t]m political    
prison] applies to a p]son :o has be5   
deta9$ or imprison$ on politically      
motivat$ gr\nds4 ,political prison]s may
 h us$ or advocat$ viol5ce or hatr$1 or 
9 "s cases !y may h committ$ "s m9or    
(f5se1 :i* is a pretext = a politically 
motivat$ imprisonm5t4  7#b7 ,prison] (  
consci5ce ,! t]m prison] ( consci5ce    

means any p]son :o-- 7,a7 is imprison$  
or o!rwise physically re/rict$ solely = 
! peaceful ex]cise ( 8 or h] human      
rights2 &  7,b7 has n us$ viol5ce or    
advocat$ viol5ce or hatr$4  #d4 ,/atem5t
 ( policy ,x is ! policy ( ! ,unit$     
,/ates--  7#a7 to support democracy1    
peace1 & prosp]ity 9 ,turkey2  7#b7 to  
oppose ! abuse ( c\nt]t]rorism          
au?orities1 includ+ to t>get j\rnali/s1 
political oppon5ts1 dissid5ts1 m9orities
 includ+ ,kurds1 & o!rs engag$ 9 ex]cis+
 _! "r to fre$oms ( expression1 peaceful
 assembly1 or association2  7#c7 to     
consid] ^? unfairly deta9$ or imprison$ 
"u c\nt]t]rorism au?orities on          
politically motivat$ gr\nds to be       
prison]s ( consci5ce or political       
prison]s1 z appropriate1 unless !re is  
probative evid5ce ( specific crim9al    
misconduct pres5t$ 9 proce$+s t comply )
 int]national fair trial /&>ds2  7#d7 to
 use all diplomatic tools to ensure t   
all prison]s ( consci5ce & political    
prison]s 9 ,turkey are releas$2  7#e7 to

 support & pressure ! ,gov]nm5t (       
,turkey 9 ! repeal or am5dm5t ( all     
anti-t]rorism laws & regulations t all[ 
! gov]nm5t to unju/ly t>get j\rnali/s1  
political oppon5ts1 dissid5ts1 &        
m9orities2  7#f7 to support & pressure !
 ,gov]nm5t ( ,turkey 9 ! repeal or      
am5dm5t ( all laws & regulations t      
violate ! "r to fre$oms ( expression1   
peaceful assembly1 or association 9 a   
mann] n p]mitt$ by int]national legal   
/&>ds1 includ+ laws & regulations t seek
 to puni% ^? :o insult political figures
 or d5igrate ! ,turki% nation or /ate   
in/itutions2  7#g7 to support & pressure
 ! ,gov]nm5t ( ,turkey 9 ! repeal or    
am5dm5t ( all laws & regulations t      
violate ! "r to a fair trial2 &  7#h7 to
 oppose ! export to ,turkey by any      
c\ntry ( surveillance te*nologies1      
includ+ s(tw>e1 t c be us$ to monitor ! 
activities ( j\rnali/s1 political       
oppon5ts1 dissid5ts1 or m9orities4  #e4 
,political prison]s assi/ance ,!        
,secret>y ( ,/ate %all provide assi/ance

 to civil society organizations 9       
,turkey t "w to secure ! release (      
prison]s ( consci5ce & political        
prison]s 9 ,turkey1 & to curr5t & =m]   
prison]s ( consci5ce & political        
prison]s 9 ,turkey4 ,assi/ance %all     
include ! foll[+ activities3  7#a7      
,support = ! docum5tation ( human rights
 violations ) respect to prison]s (     
consci5ce & politically motivat$        
prison]s4  7#b7 ,support = advocacy 9   
,turkey to raise aw>5ess ( issues relat+
 to prison]s ( consci5ce & political    
prison]s4  7#c7 ,support = ef=ts to     
repeal or am5d laws or regulations t are
 us$ to imprison individuals z ei!r     
prison]s ( consci5ce or political       
prison]s4  7#d7 ,support1 includ+ travel
 co/s1 & legal fees1 = families (       
prison]s ( consci5ce & political        
prison]s4  7#e7 ,support = heal?1       
includ+ m5tal heal?1 & po/-inc>c]ation  
assi/ance 9 ga9+ access to education &  
employm5t opportunities or o!r =ms (    
rep>ation to enable =m] prison]s (      

consci5ce & political prison]s to resume
 a normal life4  7#f7 ,! delegation (   
specific ,unit$ ,/ates mission /aff :o w
 obs]ve trials 9 politically motivat$   
cases1 includ+ 9 ,s\!a/ ,turkey4  #f4   
,s5se ( ,congress on press fre$om ,x is 
! s5se ( ,congress t-- 7#a7 ! ,gov]nm5t 
( ,turkey mu/ take /eps to significantly
 improve ! dire climate = j\rnali/s & ^?
 support+ ! j\rnalism pr(ession1 includ+
 end+ ! en=cem5t ( draconian laws &     
regulations t re/rict fre$om (          
expression & releas+ all j\rnali/s &    
m$ia work]s imprison$ = fulfill+ _!     
pr(essional responsibilities2  7#b7 !   
,dep>tm5t ( ,/ate %\ld provide assi/ance
 & w>n+s ( imp5d+ politically motivat$  
det5tion or h>m to j\rnali/s & m$ia     
work]s 9 dang] 9 ,turkey1 reg>dless (   
citiz5%ip /atus1 includ+ j\rnali/s work+
 = ,kurdi% m$ia organizations2  7#c7    
,unit$ ,/ates ,gov]nm5t (ficials %\ld   
prioritize dem&s to release unfairly    
deta9$ j\rnali/s & m$ia work]s 9 _!     
communications ) ,turki% (ficials2 &    

7#d7 press fre$om is a fundam5tal human 
"r & %\ld be upheld & protect$ 9 ,turkey
 & ev]y:]e4  #g4 ,s5se ( ,congress on   
int]net fre$om ,x is ! s5se ( ,congress 
t-- 7#a7 ! ,gov]nm5t ( ,turkey mu/ cease
 its ongo+ crackd[n on free expression  
on ! int]net1 includ+ by repeal+ or     
am5d+ laws t all[ ! gov]nm5t to block a 
website or remove cont5t if !re is      
suffici5t suspicion t a site is insult+ 
political figures2  7#b7 ! ,dep>tm5t (  
,/ate %\ld support & pressure !         
,gov]nm5t ( ,turkey 9 halt+ its frequ5t 
reque/s t social m$ia companies block   
acc\nts & cont5t ( j\rnali/s & m$ia     
outlets1 end+ its block+ ( ,wikip$ia1 & 
ensur+ t ! ,radio & ,television ,supreme
 ,c\ncil does n arbitr>ily re/rict onl9e
 /ream+ s]vices ?r\gh a co/ly & opaque  
lic5s+ regime2 &  7#c7 escalat+ controls
 regulat+ int]net use are an attempt by 
! ,gov]nm5t ( ,turkey to sil5ce ! "o ( !
 la/ plat=ms = indep5d5t j\rnalism 9 !  
c\ntry4  #h4 ,s5se ( ,congress on       
protect+ lawy]s & promot+ fair trials ,x

 is ! s5se ( ,congress t-- 7#a7 !       
,gov]nm5t ( ,turkey mu/--  7,a7 halt its
 indiscrim9ate det5tion & prosecution ( 
lawy]s1 judges1 prosecutors1 & c\rt     
(ficials1 z well z its t>get+ ( lawy]s' 
associations2  7,b7 repeal laws re/rict+
 ! "r ( lawy]s to dis*>ge _! pr(essional
 duties1 ! rights ( suspects to legal   
c\nsel1 & ! "r ( lawy]-cli5t privileg$  
communication2  7,c7 ensure t lawy]s c  
visit deta9ees 9 police cu/ody1 & rem9d 
police & prosecutors ( ! protect$ role (
 lawy]s "u ,article #ad ( !             
,int]national ,cov5ant on ,civil &      
,political ,rights1 ,articles #e & #f ( 
! ,european ,c\rt ( ,human ,rights1 & ! 
,unit$ ,nations ,basic ,pr9ciples on !  
,role ( ,lawy]s2 &  7,d7 end ! practice 
( prosecut+ lawy]s bas$ on :om !y h     
repres5t$ z cli5ts2  7#b7 ! ,dep>tm5t ( 
,/ate %\ld support & pressure !         
,gov]nm5t ( ,turkey 9 ! abolition (     
ext5d$ pretrial det5tion1 consi/5t )    
,turkey's ,judicial ,re=m ,/rategy1 & 9 
! rev]sal ( ! ,april #bjag am5dm5t to   

,article #aei ( ! ,con/itution1 :i*     
all[s = political control ov] !         
nom9ation proc$ures to ! ,c\ncil (      
,judges & ,prosecutors2  7#c7 !         
,dep>tm5t ( ,/ate %\ld support &        
pressure ! ,gov]nm5t ( ,turkey 9 ensur+ 
! indep5d5ce ( judges & ( ! judici>y    
sy/em1 ) p>ticul> focus on ! ,m9i/ry (  
,ju/ice2 &  7#d7 ! indep5d5ce ( any     
c\ntry's judicial sy/em suff]s :5 lawy]s
 are subject to intimidation & h>assm5t 
9 _! "w & :5 lawy]s are id5tifi$ ) !    
causes ( _! cli5ts4