Cicilline Leads Congressional Hearing on Violence Outside Turkish Ambassador’s Residence

WASHINGTON – U.S. Congressman David N. Cicilline (D-RI) served as Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee’s Europe, Eurasia, and Emerging Threats Subcommittee for the first Congressional hearing on the recent violent attack by Turkish Government officials targeting protesters outside the Turkish Ambassador’s Residence in Washington. The full text of Cicilline’s remarks, as delivered, is embedded below.

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David N. Cicilline

Right to Peaceful Protest

Remarks as Delivered

May 25, 2017

Thank you Mr. Chairman for calling this hearing today and for giving us the chance to explore in detail what happened at the Turkish Ambassador’s residence on May 16th, just a little over a week ago, when President Erdogan’s security forces brutally assaulted peaceful protesters.

I want to thank our witnesses for being here today. And to note that Ms. Usoyan, Mr. Yusa, and Mr. Hamparian were in attendance at the protest, and will be sharing their firsthand accounts of what happened with us today. I’m very glad that none of you were seriously injured in the incident on the 16th and I thank all of you, including Professor Wedgwood, for being here today to discuss this incident and how it will affect U.S.-Turkish relations going forward.

I think everyone here probably knows what happened but I want to repeat the timeline of events so that we’re clear on what occurred.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey, who recently consolidated his own control in a referendum giving him sweeping authority, recently made an official visit to the United States to meet with President Trump. In that meeting the two leaders discussed a variety of mutual interests, including the fight against ISIS, the failed coup plot against Erdogan last year, and other mutual interests.

I think it’s important to point out one thing that, by all accounts, was not discussed, and that’s Turkey’s ongoing crackdown against fundamental freedoms including freedom of the press and peaceful assembly. At no time did President Trump raise concerns about the crackdown being carried out by the Erdogan regime against dissidents, journalists, minorities, and anyone who speaks out against his government’s abuses.

Later that same day, President Erdogan was leaving the Turkish Ambassador’s residence when his guards became involved in an altercation with peaceful protesters, violently attacking Americans and others who were exercising their right to free speech on U.S. soil. Multiple videos from the scene show Turkish security forces beating, kicking, and otherwise assaulting protesters, with D.C. police officers attempting to break up the altercation. I understand we may see some of that video here in a few minutes. At least eleven individuals were seriously injured in the attack, with two requiring hospitalization

Equally disturbing is the video that appears to show President Erdogan surveying the scene of protesters in front of him, then verbally encouraging his guards to attack. 

It is my understanding that two Turkish security officers were detained in relation to their involvement in this incident but were then released due to diplomatic immunity. I also understand that there is still an active investigation into the incident by the Washington, DC police force.

Our State Department, and Secretary Tillerson, have rightfully condemned this egregious action by Turkish security forces and have called the Turkish Ambassador in to raise their concerns. Those are good first steps but by no means do they resolve this issue.

There are a few steps that absolutely must be taken as follow-up to this horrific incident:

·         The U.S. government should request a waiver of immunity for anyone involved in the violent attack against peaceful protestors.

·         The U.S government must make clear that we expect full cooperation by the Turkish government in the investigation of this crime.

·         The U.S. government must make clear to Turkey and any other government who wishes to have a presence in the United States that our laws, including the freedom of speech and assembly, are the binding laws of the land when they are on U.S. soil.

·         Officials of the U.S. government, including the President and Secretary of State Tillerson, must make it clear that the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms, including the right to free speech and freedom of assembly, are American values and will be prioritized in our relationships with every country with whom we have relations.

I want to emphasize that freedom, dignity, and equality are not just American values, they are universal values that every person deserves, no matter where they were born. This idea that we can somehow leave our values at our shores edge, to focus on other priorities, is inherently false. Our values make us who we are, they guide how we live our lives, and how we interact in the world. The United States is a global leader precisely because people everywhere strive to achieve the freedoms that are afforded to us in our constitution.

When our top leaders say things such as, “we’re not here to lecture,” or we don’t expect others to “adopt our values” it debases who we are and the very ideals that form our democracy. And it has dire consequences.

I don’t pretend that the Turkish government has suddenly changed its tune because of the words of a few government officials. They have been behaving badly on our soil for years. But this was a particularly brazen act, on the heels of a highly publicized meeting with our President, and one has to wonder why President Erdogan felt so emboldened, that in the bright D.C. sunshine, in front of cameras and hundreds of people, he sent his attack dogs out.

As Secretary Tillerson said, this is simply unacceptable. Now we must decide how we are going to respond as country, and as government representatives, to this brazen assault on our people and our values. I think the resolution that was passed by the full Foreign Affairs Committee this morning condemning this attack was an excellent start, and I look forward to working with my colleagues to determine the appropriate reaction going forward.

I look forward to hearing your testimony today, and I yield back the balance of my time.