Today, the House Foreign Affairs Committee advanced several key pieces of legislation with the support of Rep. Chris Smith (NJ-04), a senior member on the Committee and chair of the House panel that oversees global health and human rights.

     One of bills to advance, H. Res. 354, condemns the violence against peaceful protesters outside the Turkish Ambassador’s residence on May 16, 2017 and calls on the United States to take further steps to strengthen freedoms for the press in countries such as Turkey. Smith noted the particular importance of this bill as one of the several individuals attacked during the peaceful protest was a resident of Smith’s home state of New Jersey.

     Smith spoke and advocated passage of the bill during the mark up and debate in Committee.

     “I watched the videos of these horrendous attacks and I was outraged when thugs from the Turkish embassy beat up peaceful demonstrators, including New Jersey resident Ceren Borazan, who were objecting to the alarming move away from democracy and rule of law that has occurred under President Erdogan,” said Smith. “By such an impulsive reaction, the representatives of the Turkish government confirmed our worst fears.”

     “Ceren is asking for justice, and she deserves it,” Smith concluded.

###