House Speaker Paul Ryan said Thursday he backs a resolution from the House Foreign Affairs Committee that condemns the violence seen at the Turkish ambassador’s residence on May 16.
“The violent crackdown on peaceful protesters by Turkish security forces was completely indefensible, and the Erdogan government’s response was wholly inadequate,” Ryan said in a statement.
“Turkey is an important NATO ally, but its leaders must fully condemn and apologize for this brutal behavior against innocent civilians exercising their First Amendment rights,” he said.
The violent crackdown on peaceful protesters by Turkish security forces was completely indefensible. I join @HouseForeign in condemning it. pic.twitter.com/w3vKtfRKTu
— Paul Ryan (@SpeakerRyan) May 25, 2017
The committee passed the resolution Thursday morning, and Ryan thanked the committee for its “swift action.”
Lawmakers from both parties objected to the violence, which happened by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was visiting the U.S. last week. At least 11 people were injured when protesters clashed with Turkish security forces outside the Turkish ambassador’s residence.
“Armed members of President Erdogan’s security detail savagely beat, choked and kicked protesters in an unprovoked assault aimed at silencing these American citizens’ right to free speech and assembly,” committee Chairman Ed Royce, R-Calif., said Thursday. “This timely resolution sends a clear signal to the Turkish government that we will not allow any foreign government to stifle the rights of our citizens.”
