Rohrabacher Condemns Newspaper Seizure in Turkey

Statement

Concerning the seizure by Turkey's government of a major newspaper, Rep. Dana Rohrabacher, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Europe, Eurasia, and Emerging Threats, issued the following statement:

President Racep Tayyip Erdogan has for years been moving in the wrong direction. The armed seizure over the weekend of Zaman, Turkey's largest newspaper, along with the politically motivated sacking of its top journalists, was a giant step backwards.

It was a clear signal to the world and an intimidating message to the Turkish people that his objective is nothing less than a strict authoritarian regime with him at the top. This is acutely significant given Erdogan's known ties to the radical Muslim Brotherhood, which has been spreading murder and mayhem throughout the Middle East.

For years our NATO ally Turkey has been looked to as an example of how democracy can be compatible with Islam. That must remain our hope. But Erdogan's latest, power-hungry outrage singlehandedly casts doubt on that promise. The United States as well as our European and Muslim allies -- indeed all believers in democracy -- must in the strongest possible terms condemn Erdogan's violent efforts to stifle dissent.

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