Tom Lantos Commission holds hearing on democratic backsliding in Turkey

The Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission of the U.S. House of Representatives held a hearing on Wednesday regarding democratic developments in Turkey. Titled 'Can Turkey find its way back to freedom? The consolidation of authoritarianism versus the defense of Turkish democracy,' the session addressed concerns about the rule of law and judicial independence. The committee noted that Freedom House has classified Turkey as 'Not Free' since 2018. A central point of discussion was the March 2025 arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, which occurred shortly before his anticipated presidential bid. Speakers expressed concern that this move, along with legal actions against hundreds of municipal staff, undermines electoral integrity. The hearing also reviewed issues of censorship and the treatment of religious minorities. Henry Barkey, a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, characterized these actions as a significant escalation in state authority. The event highlighted the importance of Turkey's stability to the NATO alliance.