Washington, D.C. – House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Ed Royce (R-CA) issued the following statement regarding the situation in Turkey:

“Turkish security forces and citizens in the street have kept the democratically elected government in power. Now, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan must do his part and turn away from his creeping authoritarianism.

“The Erdogan government’s crackdowns on political opposition, the media, and religious freedom have done great harm to Turkish democracy in recent years. This is a pivotal moment for Turkey. I hope President Erdogan reacts by committing to greater democracy, pluralism, and respect for human rights. And the United States can be a true friend by pushing harder for these ideals.

“My fear, though, is that the Turkish president will move in the opposite direction.”