A dozen men accompanying Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to America last month have been criminally charged for attacking protesters who had gathered outside the Turkish ambassador’s home in Washington D.C.
Bystanders filmed the May 16 altercation as members of Erogan’s security detail broke through police lines and began kicking and punching protesters, leaving 11 injured, including a police officer. Erdogan and Trump had met in the White House only hours before.
American legislators were infuriated by the events, their sentiment underscored by a unanimous vote in the House of Representatives last week on a resolution calling for prosecution of a dozen Turkish guards identified in video footage of the incident.
In a press conference Thursday, Metropolitan Police Department Chief Peter Newsham commented that the guard’s actions were a clear violation of the First Amendment, saying “in the United States, and particularly in the District of Columbia, we hold our ability to peacefully protest as a sacred right.”
However, Erogan was vocally critical of the charges, vowing the country “will initiate a legal battle against the arrest warrants for my security detail,” and adding that “If they are not allowed to protect me in the United States, why do I bring them there with me?”
Further complicating the matter, video footage suggests that Erdogan may have made an order for the guards to come to his aid while sitting in the driveway of the ambassador’s residence, a command that may have resulted in the ensuing violence.
Turkey blamed the protesters for provoking the conflict, saying a water bottle was hurled at the guards along with persistent verbal insults. Turkey also claimed that many of the protesters were members of the Kurdish Worker’s Party (PKK), an organization recognized as terrorist in nature by both Turkey and the United States. Protesters denied the claim and no reports have indicated any verity to the allegation.
While it is doubtful Turkey will send the guards to the United States to face charges, they risk arrest if ever to reenter the country. The guards face several felony and misdemeanor counts.
Turkish guards are not the only party facing prosecution, as police officials have confirmed the arrest of two Americans for their involvement, Sinan Narin of Virginia and Eyup Yildirim of New Jersey, as well as two Canadians. Narin was charged with felony and misdemeanor assault, while Yildirim was charged with two felony counts and misdemeanor assault.
Trump and Erdogan maintained a complicated relationship as of late, though mainly avoiding any direct conflict as the Qatari storyline in the Middle East has continued to develop. Turkey recently aligned itself as an ally of Qatar, while Trump praised Saudi Arabia and their allies in a series of tweets for their embargo of the small emirate.
As recent as one month ago Trump was quoted ensuring Erdogan that “We support Turkey in the fight against terror groups like ISIS and the PKK, and ensure they have no safe quarter.”
Time will tell if Congress’ recent decision, and the subsequent actions of the D.C. police, will hamper the positive relations the two nations have pursued over the early part of Trump’s administration.
