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WASHINGTONSenior members of the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA) and Ted Poe (R-TX), Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission Co-Chairman Jim McGovern (D-MA), and Representatives Jim Costa (D-CA) and John Sarbanes (D-MD) condemned Turkish President Erdogans violent crackdown both in Turkey and the U.S. during A Stand for Free Speech held at Washington, DCs Sheridan Circle, site of the May 16th attack by the Turkish presidential security detail which hospitalized nice people, reported the Armenian National Committee of America.

Were here affirming our First Amendment freedoms rejecting Ankaras violent efforts to enforce its gag-rule against American citizens, said Aram Hamparian, Executive Director of the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA), which organized the event in coordination with the Sheridan Circle May 16 Initiative (including many victims of the beatings), and a host of Kurdish, Armenian, Greek, Assyrian, and Christian groups including the American Kurdish Association (AKA), In Defense of Christians, American Hellenic Council, Armenian Legal Center for Justice and Human Rights, A Demand for Action, Hellenic American Leadership Council, AHEPA, and the Armenian Youth Federation.

The idea that a foreign tyrant can come to the United States [] and allow his goons to beat up Americans on American soil is preposterous, said Rep. Poe, who went on to call for the extradition of those charged with the attack. They need to have a trial and they need to go to jail, if theyre convicted. All of them all of them involved in the assault. Rep. Poe, who had called for Congressional colleagues to join him in returning to the site of the May 16th beatings during the May 25th House Foreign Affairs Committee consideration of a measure condemning the crimes, was unequivocal: The Turkish Government is responsible for that action, and they need to be held accountable.

Rep. Jim McGovern voiced similar concerns, calling on the State Department and the Justice Department to do everything they can to extradite the perpetrators of this vicious attack on US citizens and US soil. They need to be held to account. He noted that the Turkish government showed its brutality when faced with people who disagree with them people who believe in the reality of the Armenian Genocide, people who believe in the reality of freedom of religion in Turkey, people who believe in the reality of minority rights in Turkey, and people who believe in the reality of the security of Greece and Cyprus.

Citing the increasing repression within Turkey, Rep. Rohrabacher stressed that, Erdogan beat people here and the American people need to know this was nothing compared to the suppression and brutality that Erdogan is showing his own people in Turkey. He went on to send a clear message to Turkeys authoritarian regime: Until [Erdogan] apologizes to the American people for having his thugs beat up American citizens who are expressing their opinion, Mr. Erdogan should not be welcome to come back in the United States for a visit.

Rep. Costa concurred, noting The Turkish government owes us an apology and more than that; those injuries that took place are a reflection of the lack of respect of human rights in Turkey today where literally thousands of Turkish citizens have found themselves imprisoned, found members of the press in jail, only for trying to protect their own views.

Rep. Paul Sarbanes reminded President Erdogan that in this country, under our First Amendment, under our constitutional democracy, we have the right to peaceably assemble. He noted that Turkeys authoritarianism is nothing new for those in attendance of the protest discrimination, aggression, repression, (and) violence directed at the Kurds, at Armenians, at other ethnic and religious minorities, and of course theres the shameful legacy of the Armenian Genocide.

A number of victims of the brutal attacks spoke out in defiance of President Erdogans authoritarian tactics.

As an American citizen, I was violated from exercising [my] first amendment right of freedom of speech, said Sayid Reza Yasa, who lost a tooth, required stitches on his nose, and continues to suffer from the consequences of a concussion. I will never be afraid of them, but next time I go, Ill take my hard hat with me, just in case.

Ceren Borazan, who was videotaped in a choke-hold by a member of the Turkish security detail, outlined the litany of ongoing repression in Turkey. A half million Kurdish people have been displaced, said Borazan. More than 5,000 politicians and activists arrested in just 2 years. Erdogan has jailed more than 150 journalists and closed over 200 media outlets. He has fired more than 5,000 academics and also shut down 2,000 academics. He also tells women how many children they should have, targeting womens rights.

A third victim, Lucy Usoyan, who is of Yezidi origin and hails from Armenia, reminded attendees: We all have seen what happened on May 16th. Our fundamental rights as U.S. citizens have been threatened by Turkish government. President Erdogan, himself, wanted to silence our voices, but instead he made sure that we have been heard worldwide.

Hellenic American Leadership Councils Michael Maragos noted: The Greek-American community shared everyones shock when we watched when peaceful protesters were attacked by Turkish thugs on American soil. We were shocked but not surprised. For 100 years, Turkey has ignored the rule of law.

The diverse group of community leaders were also joined by Fr. Sarkis Aktavoukian of Soorp Khatch Armenian Church, as well as by a Congressional aides, including those representing the offices of Congressman Brad Sherman (D-CA), a senior member of the Foreign Affairs Committee, and Congressman Devin Nunes (R-CA), Chairman of the House Intelligence Committee. The July 19th gathering comes a month after Washington, DC law enforcement issued 18 arrest warrants including a dozen against Turkish President Recep Erdogans bodyguards and two Canadians of Turkish origin. Two Americans of Turkish heritage have already been arrested for assault and various related crimes. Hours after the arrest warrants were issued, the Turkish Foreign Ministry summoned U.S. Ambassador to Turkey John Bass and, according to a press statement, emphasized that the decision, which clearly was not taken as a result of an impartial and independent investigation, is unacceptable. President Erdogan later reacted angrily to news of these arrests, asking What kind of a law is this? If they [bodyguards] are not going to protect me, why would I bring them with me to America? Erdogan vowed to fight the charges leveled against his bodyguards.

The ANCAs Hamparian was videotaping live at the scene of the May 16th attack, which took place in front of the Turkish Ambassadors residence where President Erdogan was scheduled to have a closed-door meeting with think tank leaders. Hamparians video showed pro-Erdogan forces crossing a police line and beating peaceful protesters elderly men and several women who were on the ground bleeding during most of the attack.

Hamparian testified before a May 25th Foreign Affairs Subcommittee hearing on this matter. Joining him at the hearing were Ms. Lusik Usoyan, Founder and President of the Ezidi Relief Fund; Mr. Murat Yusa, a local businessman and protest organizer; and Ms. Ruth Wedgwood, Edward B. Burling Professor of International Law and Diplomacy, at Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies. Usoyan and Yusa were victims of the brutal assault on May 16th by President Erdogans bodyguards.

On June 6th, with a vote of 397 to 0, the U.S. House of Representatives unanimously condemned Turkey in response to the attacks, taking a powerful stand against Ankaras attempts to export its violence and intolerance to Americas shores. H.Res.354, spearheaded by House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Ed Royce (R-CA), Ranking Democrat Eliot Engel (D-NY), House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) and Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer (D-MD), has received the public backing of House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI). On July 14th, the U.S. House also unanimously adopted an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Bill, championed by Armenian Caucus Co-Chairman David Trott (R-MI), raising objections to a proposed U.S. sale of handguns for use by the very Erdogan security detail involved in the May 16th attack.

Over 100 Senate and House members expressed outrage over the attacks through public statements, social media, and a series of Congressional letters.

The May 16th protest in front of the Turkish Ambassadors residence was a continuation of a demonstration held earlier in the day in front of the White House, co-hosted by the ANCA. As President Trump met with President Erdogan. human rights and religious rights groups were joined by representatives of the Kurdish, Yezidi and Armenian communities to call attention to the Erdogan regimes escalating repression against free press, the Kurdish and other ethnic communities, as well as Turkeys ongoing obstruction of justice for the Armenian Genocide.

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Members of Congress Demand Erdogan Apologize for Embassy Attack - Asbarez Armenian News

ANKARA/ISTANBUL, July 16 (Reuters) - A defiant President Tayyip Erdogan on Sunday stepped up his attack on the European Union, saying Turkey had to go its own way and vowing to bring back the death penalty if parliament passes it.

Erdogan, who was at the opening ceremony for a memorial dedicated to the roughly 250 people who died during last years failed coup, accused Brussels of messing about with Turkeys decades-long bid to join the bloc.

The speech, in front of the presidential palace in Ankara in the early hours of Sunday, wound up a marathon session of public appearances by Erdogan in both the capital and Istanbul to mark the anniversary of last years failed coup.

The stance of the European Union is clear to see... 54 years have passed and they are still messing us about, he said, citing what he said was Brussels failure to keep promises on everything from a visa deal to aid for Syrian migrants.

We will sort things out for ourselves, theres no other option.

Umit Bektas / Reuters

Ties with Europe were strained after the coup, given the Wests alarm about the scale of the government crackdown that followed. Some 150,000 people have been sacked or suspended from their jobs and more than 50,000 detained on suspicion of links to the U.S.-based Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen, whom Ankara blames for the attempted putsch.

He also said he would approve, without hesitation the death penalty, if parliament voted to bring it back a move that would effectively end Turkeys bid to join the European Union.

I dont look at what Hans and George say. I look at what Ahmet, Mehmet, Hasan, Huseyin, Ayse, Fatma and Hatice say, he said, to cheers from a flag-waving crowd.

Erdogan, the most popular and divisive politician in recent Turkish history, sees himself as the liberator of pious millions who were deprived for decades of their rights and welfare by Turkeys secular elite.

Umit Bektas / Reuters

European Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker said the EU remained committed to dialog with Turkey and called on Ankara to strengthen democracy and the rule of law. He also warned against reinstating the death penalty.

One year after the attempted coup, Europes hand remains outstretched, Juncker wrote in Germanys Bild am Sonntag newspaper.

If Turkey were to introduce the death penalty, the Turkish government would finally slam the door to EU membership.

Addressing a crowd of hundreds of thousands in Istanbul on Saturday evening, Erdogan promised violent retribution against Turkeys enemies, including FETO - his term for Gulens network - and the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK).

We know who is behind FETO, the PKK and all of them, he said. We cannot defeat the queen, king, or sheikhs without defeating the pawns, knights and castles. Firstly, we will rip the heads off of these traitors.

He also said that alleged members of Gulens network would be forced to wear jumpsuits like those worn by prisoners at the Guantanamo Bay detention camp, after one detainee showed up to a court hearing wearing a T-shirt that said Hero.

(Additional reporting by Michael Nienaber in Berlin; Writing by David Dolan; Editing by Keith Weir)

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Erdogan Vows To Punish Turkey's Enemies On Anniversary Of Failed Coup - HuffPost

The cover of French newspaper Libration on July 17, 2017. The headline reads: "Turkey: But who wil stop Erdogan?"

euro-press review

Divisions over Macrons housing tax in France. Mays fractious cabinet gets top billing in London.

By Saim Saeed

7/17/17, 12:02 PM CET

Updated 7/18/17, 12:41 PM CET

Its been one year since a failed coup tried to dislodge Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoan from power. In the year since, thousands of government officials, soldiers, police officers and lawyers, as well as academics and opposition activists, have been arrested and jailed, allegedly for colluding with the coup plotters. Also in that time, Erdoans relationship with Europehas worsened, putting Turkeys chances of entering the EUeven lower. Commemorating the one-year anniversary in a large rally in Istanbul, the Turkish leader promised to break the heads of the coup plotters and to reinstate the death penalty, despite capital punishment being a red line for EU negotiators. While Turkeys pro-government press hailed the presidents words, the European press lamented them.

Pro-government paper Akam: Stopping the tanks with the fist: there is no other country [like Turkey] referring to Erdoans success in averting the coup attempt. Centrist Hrriyet Daily News led with Millions mark failed coup bid anniversary. (Its Turkish language version led with the same headline as Akam.) Opposition newspapers Cumhuriyet and Szc ignored Erdoan on their front pages entirely.

Left-leaning Libration and Catholic paper La Croix focused on Erdoan and the coup anniversarywith grim assessments of the current state of Turkish politics. Libration led with But who will stop Erdoan? And La Croix: Since the failed putsch, its only been a year, President Erdoan has extended his control over the country with purges that followed. Conservative Le Figaro railed against President Emmanuel Macrons tax plans. Housing tax: the great worry for mayors, led its headline. Its editorial, titled False good idea, was also about the housing tax, with the question: How will the state compensate for the scrapping of the housing tax?

The German press also led with Turkey. The Frankfurter Allgemeine had an opinion piece on its front page titled, Turkey is lost, which argued that talks on Turkeys accession to the EU should be stopped as well as a front pager on the Erdoans rally. Putschists will find no peace. Turkish president recommends death penalty more clearly than before, FA wrote. Sddeutsche Zeitung led with Social Democrat leader Martin Schulzs proposal to cut funding to EU countries, such as Hungary and Poland, that refuse to take in migrants. Right-leaning Die Welt, weighing in on Schulzs 10-point plan, added criticism from the ruling Christian Democrat coalition that said Schulzs ideas for greater public sector investment and a joint eurozone budget would be too expensive.

Brexit talks begin with the government in chaos: That sums up Mondays front pages in London. A bust-up between Chancellor Philip Hammond, an avowed Remainer, and senior Brexiteers in cabinet comes just as Brexit Secretary David Davis arrived in Brussels to continue negotiations with the EU on the terms of the U.K.s departure from the bloc. Metro led with the title, Wicked leaks, referring to statements attributed to Hammond, who allegedly said public sector servants were overpaid. Hardcore Brexiteers were responsible for the leaks, according to the chancellor. Hammond accused of Brexit treachery, led the Times. Cabinet chaos as Brexit talks resume, was is headline. The Mirror called Hammond a hypocrite: Multi-millionaire chancellor calls nurses and cops overpaid whilst raking in 10k a month renting property as he lives in luxury for free, it said.

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'Who will stop Erdoan?' POLITICO - POLITICO.eu

Ankara (AFP) - Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Friday said he has never known Qatar to give support to terror organisations, a charge made by Saudi Arabia and its allies who have cut ties with the gas-rich emirate.

Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and other states broke off relations on Monday over what they say is the emirate's financing of extremist groups as well as its ties to Iran, Riyadh's regional arch-rival.

On Friday, the Saudis and their allies placed several Qataris and Doha-based organisations on a "terror list" as the bitter diplomatic row escalated.

They released a joint statement listing as many as 18 individuals, including members of Qatar's royal family and a former minister as involved in "terrorist" activities.

While maintaining good relations with the Gulf states, Turkey has vowed to continue to back its close ties with Qatar, which Erdogan again defended on Friday.

"They declare foundations established to provide different services as terror organisations. Something like this should not happen. I know those foundations. Until today I have not witnessed Qatar give support to terror," Erdogan said in Istanbul.

In addition to cutting ties, Saudi Arabia has also sealed off Qatar's only land border, a crucial lifeline for food imports.

The Turkish leader called for the "blockade" against Doha to be "completely lifted", urging Saudi Arabia to show leadership and encourage good relations in the region.

"I have a request to the Saudi administration: you are the biggest in the Gulf, the strongest... not with hostilities, you should be the leader of fraternity there, you should bring everyone together," Erdogan said.

He also ratified a bill approved by Turkish lawmakers on Wednesday to deploy troops to a Turkish base in Qatar in a move seen as Ankara's show of support for Doha.

Erdogan defended the action, asking "our friends" in the Gulf: "Why does the American base not discomfort you? There are other countries' bases too, why doesn't it discomfort you?"

He was referring to the enormous Al-Udeid airbase, the United States' biggest in the Middle East which is home to some 10,000 US troops.

It is a crucial hub for US military operations in the Middle East, especially the battle against the Islamic State group.

Erdogan said Turkey would continue to help Qatar such as exporting food and medicine to them.

"Sorry, but we will continue to give all kinds of support to Qatar," he said.

See more here:
Erdogan says 'not witnessed' Qatar give support to terror

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will wade deeper into the Gulf crisis with trips to Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Qatar from Sunday, diplomacy that may be as much about protecting his nations regional interests as finding a way out of the six-week impasse.

Ankara has been a crucial ally of Qatar since it was isolated by a four-nation, Saudi-led coalition on June 5,shipping it food and expanding its military presence there ahead of joint military drills later this month. In a sign its looking to broaden that role, Defense Fikri Isik said Erdogans two-day visit to major trade partners would aim toease tensions rather than fueling instability, while reiterating that Qatars sovereignty must be respected.

We are saying that primarily Saudi Arabia and all other countries should sit down at a table and solve this through peaceful dialogue, Isik said in the capital on Monday. To that end, Turkey is ready to make any contribution.

Diplomatic efforts to end the standoff have so far failed. After four days of shuttle diplomacy between Gulf capitals last week, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said the dispute -- which pits longstanding U.S. economic and security allies against each other -- may last quite a while. The sides still refuse to speak to each other directly and are no closer to resolving the 13 key demands made after the crisis started.

They include Qatar downgrading its cordial ties with chief Saudi foe Iran, ending the Turkish military presence on its soil, and stopping its backing for the Muslim Brotherhood, an Islamic group that has been in the crosshairs of the Saudis and other Gulf monarchies since the Arab revolts at the start of this decade. Qatar has rebuffed the demands and has also denied the blocs allegation that it funds terrorism.

Turkey also has a lot at stake. While it, too, backs the Brotherhood and is a major recipient of Qatari investment, Saudi Arabia and fellow alliance member United Arab Emirates bought $8.6 billion of Turkish exports last year, almost 20 times as much as Qatar.

Read More: Saudis Are After the Muslim Brotherhood, and Turkeys In the Way.

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Turkey has already been excluded as a main mediator and broker in the Qatar crisis because of the unwavering, expanded support it has extended to Doha and due to its position on the Muslim Brotherhood and Hamas, Anthony Skinner, a director with U.K.-based forecasting company Verisk Maplecroft, said by email. That said, President Erdogan has a clear interest in doing what he can to break the impasse and to ensure political, trade and commercial ties with Saudi Arabia are not eroded.

Speaking during a trip to the U.K., U.A.E. Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Anwar Gargash said he saw little hope of a quick fix to the spat. He said that the alliance -- which also includes Egypt and Bahrain -- needed a clear signal that Qatar, the worlds largest producer of liquefied natural gas, is willing to reexamine its position regarding extremism and terrorism.

The situation we want to move to is a neighbor that we can trust, a neighbor that is transparent, that we can do business with, Gargash said in an interview outside parliament in central London. This is not a crisis where we are looking for a quick fix, he said. We need a solution that will stick.

Ilnur Cevik, a chief adviser to Erdogan, said by phone on Tuesday that Turkey was seeking to join the dialogue as an impartial player.

Mehmet Sahin, an analyst of international relations at Ankaras Gazi University, said he expected the Turkish president to stress that the Arab world should unite against the real threats from Iran as well as regional turmoil, including Syria.

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Erdogan's Gulf Crisis Trip Signals Conflicting Turkish Interests - Bloomberg