Bill Text: NJ SR79 | 2016-2017 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Condemns Turkey's human rights violations following recent attempted military coup against President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2016-09-26 - Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate State Government, Wagering, Tourism & Historic Preservation Committee [SR79 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2016-SR79-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Senator JOSEPH PENNACCHIO
District 26 (Essex, Morris and Passaic)
SYNOPSIS
Condemns Turkey's human rights violations following recent attempted military coup against President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
A Senate Resolution condemning Turkey's human rights violations following the recent attempted military coup against President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Whereas, On July 15, 2016, an attempt was made by renegade military forces to topple the democratically-elected government of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey; and
Whereas, Though the attempted coup was quickly quashed by forces loyal to President Erdogan and a wave of support from the Turkish people, the aftermath of the attempted coup has had a devastating effect on civil rights in Turkey; and
Whereas, News reports have noted that more than 10,000 Turkish soldiers have been detained, nearly half of the top generals and admirals have been jailed or dismissed, and more than 5,000 army officers have been sent to pretrial detention following the attempted coup; and
Whereas, News reports also indicate that 21,700 Ministry of Education officials have been fired without explanation and every university dean in Turkey, more than 1,500 in all, has been forced to resign for reasons that are unclear; and
Whereas, At the same time, more than 100 broadcast, newspaper, magazine and other media companies have been shut down and at least 28 journalists and media workers have been detained because of suspected ties to Pennsylvania-based Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen, who is blamed by President Erdogan for organizing the attempted coup; and
Whereas, More than 21,000 private school teachers have been suspended and more than 1,000 private schools will be closed, with students re-directed to public schools, because the private schools have been strongly linked to Fethullah Gulen; and
Whereas, The American Association for the Advancement of Science and seven other leading American science and engineering societies have expressed concern recently for the abridged human rights of the Turkish scientific community, which has reportedly been subject to restrictions including travel bans and the ordered return of Turkish academics working abroad; and
Whereas, Given the importance of Turkey as a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and a strong ally of the United States in the fight against terrorism stemming from the Middle East, it is fitting and proper that this House condemn Turkey's human rights violations following the recent attempted coup against President Recep Tayyip Erdogan; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of New Jersey:
1. This House condemns Turkey's human rights violations following the recent attempted military coup against President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
2. Copies of this resolution, as filed with the Secretary of State, shall be transmitted by the Secretary of the Senate to Turkey's ambassador to the United States.
STATEMENT
This resolution condemns Turkey's human rights violations following the recent attempted military coup against President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
