Turkey Human Rights Promotion Act of 2026

This bill aims to promote democracy and human rights in Turkey, holding its government accountable for systemic political repression, censorship, and transnational repression. It highlights Turkey's intensified crackdown on freedoms since 2016, targeting journalists, academics, opposition, and minorities, leading to its classification as "Not Free" by Freedom House. The legislation notes the misuse of anti-terrorism laws, the concentration of power in the presidency, and the erosion of judicial independence, citing numerous arrests and dismissals of public employees, judges, and lawyers.

The United States policy outlined in the bill is to support democracy in Turkey, oppose the abuse of counterterrorism laws, and advocate for the unconditional release of political prisoners and prisoners of conscience. It presses Turkey to repeal or amend laws violating freedoms of expression, assembly, and fair trial, and condemns the export of surveillance technologies that could be used for repression. The bill also opposes Turkey's use of transnational repression, including the abuse of INTERPOL notices, and seeks to protect U.S. persons from such actions.

Key provisions include limitations on certain security assistance to Turkey, requiring the Secretary of State to certify demonstrable improvements in human rights, cessation of counterterrorism law misuse, compliance with European Court of Human Rights judgments, and an end to transnational repression. It mandates the provision of assistance to civil society organizations in Turkey that work to secure the release of political prisoners and support for independent media outlets, including those operating in exile. The legislation also requires an annual report on human rights conditions in Turkey, covering political prisoners, censorship, transnational repression, and the use of U.S.-origin technologies for abuses.

Furthermore, a Sense of Congress states that if Turkey fails to address human rights violations, the President should consider imposing Global Magnitsky sanctions on responsible officials. It also suggests the Secretary of State impose visa restrictions under the "Khashoggi Ban" on individuals involved in extraterritorial counter-dissident activities. The Secretary of the Treasury is also instructed to oppose loans or grants from international financial institutions that enable human rights violations by the Turkish government.