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Letter from Congress calls out Erdogan on ‘anti-Semitic’ statements

Special to WorldTribune.com

WASHINGTON — Congress has issued a warning to Turkish Prime Minister

Recep Erdogan over what was termed his anti-Semitism.

At least 46 members of the House of Representatives signed a letter to

Turkish President Abdullah Gul that complained about Erdogan’s anti-Jewish

stance. The U.S. representatives asserted that Erdogan was increasingly

accusing Jews of Turkey’s problems.

“As members of the United States House of Representatives, dedicated to preserving our country’s longstanding relationship with Turkey, we are writing to express our profound concern over recent anti-Semitic remarks by senior Turkish officials,” the letter, dated July 30, said.

The letter was the second by members of Congress on anti-Semitic statements by Turkish officials since March 2013. In the March letter, the House members urged Erdogan to retract a statement in which referred to Zionism as a “crime against humanity.”

In the latest letter, House members said Erdogan appeared to be blaming foreign Jews for nationwide protests in Turkey in mid-2013. The U.S. lawmakers referred to Erdogan’s remarks in which he blamed the “interest rate lobby” for the worst anti-government protests in Turkey since his

pro-Islamist Justice and Development Party was voted into power in 2002.

“Most recently, the prime minister blamed outside forces including ‘the

interest rate lobby’ — a thinly veiled reference to Jews — for the protest

movement that originated in Gezi Park,” the letter said. “Increasing our

concern, Deputy Prime Minister Besir Atalay blamed, among others, the

‘Jewish diaspora’ for fueling the demonstrations in Turkey.”

The letter was sponsored by four members of the House Foreign Affairs

Committee, and the co-signers included the chairman of the panel, Rep. Ed

Royce. The House members warned that the anti-Jewish remarks by Erdogan and

others in his government were placing “unnecessary strains on the

relationship between our two great countries.”

Erdogan has been deemed the foreign leader closest to President Barack

Obama. In June, Obama referred to Turkey as “a strong ally and partner in

the region and around the world.”

“At this moment of instability and transformation across the region, and

as you grapple with your own internal state of affairs, it is critical that

you demonstrate the highest respect for tolerance, individual liberties, and

freedom of expression,” the letter read.
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