U.S. Lawmakers Condemn Turkey’s Human Rights Record in Congressional Hearing
Washington, D.C., June 10, 2025 — The Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission held a congressional hearing this week spotlighting Turkey’s deteriorating human rights record under President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, with lawmakers and witnesses citing sweeping repression, censorship, and the targeting of ethnic and religious minorities, including Armenians, Kurds, Alevis, and Christians.
Chaired by Reps. Chris Smith (R-NJ) and James McGovern (D-MA), the hearing featured testimony on Ankara’s broad use of anti-terror laws to silence dissent and criminalize minority cultural activity. The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) recommended adding Turkey to its “Special Watch List,” citing discrimination in public employment, property seizures, and interference in worship and community leadership.
Dr. Michael Rubin of the American Enterprise Institute accused Turkey of orchestrating the “slow-motion eradication” of non-Sunni minorities and manipulating terrorism designations to suppress political opposition. He called on Congress to audit intelligence received from Turkey and reconsider the U.S. designation of the PKK as a terrorist organization.
The plight of Turkey’s Armenian population drew particular attention. While tens of thousands of Armenians still reside in the country, witnesses described ongoing cultural repression, restrictions on genocide remembrance, and hate speech in pro-government media. Advocates are often prosecuted under vague anti-terror laws, and even local April 24 memorials face surveillance or bans. Erdoğan and other officials have publicly labeled Armenian organizations as “foreign agents” or “terrorists.”
Similar patterns of discrimination against Alevis, Yazidis, Assyrians, and Protestants were noted. Minority religious properties are often confiscated or neglected, and only Sunni-affiliated clergy are officially recognized by the state.
Former NBA player Enes Kanter Freedom, an outspoken critic of Erdoğan, testified about being targeted by Turkish authorities through arrest warrants and attempted kidnappings. He described Turkish prisons as overcrowded and inhumane, particularly for elderly, ill, or pregnant detainees.
Alp Aslandogan of the Alliance for Shared Values warned that Turkey’s anti-terror laws are weaponized to punish peaceful cultural or humanitarian activities, including events commemorating the Armenian Genocide.
Rep. Smith called the situation “morally indefensible” and announced plans to reintroduce the Transnational Repression Policy Act, which would sanction foreign officials who threaten or harass dissidents abroad. Lawmakers also discussed applying Global Magnitsky sanctions, restricting arms sales, and leveraging Turkey’s NATO membership to press for reforms.
The hearing concluded with bipartisan agreement that Erdoğan’s authoritarianism—and particularly the persecution of minorities—poses not just a domestic concern, but a growing international human rights issue.
