Rep. Chris Smith, Co-Chair of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission, will chair a congressional hearing on June 3 to examine challenges to freedom, rule of law, and democracy in Turkey, according to a June 1 announcement.
The hearing follows recent electoral setbacks for Turkey’s ruling party and an intensified government crackdown on political opposition, independent media, civil society groups, religious minorities, and critics both domestically and abroad. Human rights advocates estimate that more than 15,000 political prisoners remain incarcerated in Turkey. These include journalists, lawyers, elected officials, academics, civil society leaders, and democracy activists. The Turkish government continues targeting Kurdish politicians and religious activists while concerns rise over transnational repression against critics living outside the country.
Residents in Turkey face increasing censorship measures such as court-ordered blocking of online content and social media accounts as well as criminal investigations into online speech. Restrictions also continue to affect religious and ethnic minorities; this includes limitations impacting the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople and the Halki Seminary.
Witnesses scheduled for the hearing include Henri Barkey from the Council on Foreign Relations; Michael Rubin from Middle East Forum; Serkan Golge—a senior research scientist who was previously imprisoned in Turkey; and Andrew O’Donohue from Harvard University’s Carl J. Friedrich Fellowship Program as well as Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.
The event will take place at 2128 Rayburn House Office Building with a livestream available online. Co-chairs of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission are expected to participate alongside other commission members.
Chris Smith is currently serving in the U.S. Congress representing New Jersey’s 4th district after replacing Frank Thompson in 1981; he has held this seat since then, according to official records.
