MESOP : US LAW DECISIONS ON TURKEY

74 U.S. Senators Send Letter to Kerry on Press Freedom: In a letter to Secretary of State John Kerry, 74 lawmakers criticized human rights violations in Turkey, saying, “Such a broad effort by the Turkish government to censor media is an affront to the basic principles of democracy, free society, free enterprise, rule of law, and equal opportunity.” Further, Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT) criticized the recent arrests of journalists in Turkey and called for “an end to the Turkish Government’s jailing of people for exercising their right to free expression.” Reportedly the Turkish Ambassador to the United States Serdar Kılıç urged congress members not to sign the letter prior to its release and blamed claims that journalists are being jailed on a lobbying effort in the Senate.