H.R. 10008 — Turkey Human Rights Promotion Act of 2026

This section provides the short title of the Act as the Turkey Human Rights Promotion Act of 2026 and sets forth its table of contents.

This section states congressional findings on Turkey's NATO membership since 1952, its shift to a presidential system in 2017, and the post-2016 crackdown that has resulted in over 95,000 arrests, dismissal of more than 60,000 police and military personnel, prosecution of over 1,700 lawyers, imprisonment of at least 43,000 political prisoners, and blocking of more than 1.26 million websites.

This section defines "appropriate congressional committees" as the Senate and House committees on Foreign Relations/Affairs and Appropriations. It defines "political prisoner" as a person detained in violation of European Convention on Human Rights guarantees, for political reasons without connection to an offense, in discriminatory or disproportionate conditions, or through unfair proceedings. It defines "prisoner of conscience" as a person imprisoned solely for peaceful exercise of human rights without using or advocating violence.

This section establishes United States policy to support democracy, peace, and human rights in Turkey; oppose misuse of counterterrorism laws against journalists, political opponents, and minorities; treat those detained on political grounds as prisoners of conscience; advocate for their unconditional release; press for repeal of laws restricting expression, assembly, and fair trials; oppose exports of surveillance technology usable against critics; condemn transnational repression; protect U.S. persons from foreign retaliation; and condition security cooperation on measurable human rights improvements.

This section expresses the sense of Congress that the Government of Turkey must end enforcement of laws restricting freedom of expression and unconditionally release all imprisoned journalists and media workers. It states that the Department of State should provide assistance and warnings to journalists in danger in Turkey regardless of citizenship, that United States officials should prioritize demands for their release in communications with Turkish officials, and that press freedom is a fundamental human right to be protected everywhere.

This section expresses the sense of Congress that the Government of Turkey must cease its crackdown on internet free expression by repealing or amending laws that permit blocking websites or removing content for insulting political figures, that the Department of State should pressure Turkey to halt requests for social media companies to block journalists and media outlets and to end the Radio and Television Supreme Council's arbitrary licensing regime for online streaming services, and that escalating internet controls seek to silence independent journalism.

This section expresses the sense of Congress that the Government of Turkey must halt indiscriminate detention and prosecution of lawyers, judges, and court officials; repeal laws restricting lawyer-client rights and privileged communications; ensure lawyer access to detainees; and end prosecutions based on clients represented. It further states that the Department of State should press Turkey to abolish extended pretrial detention, reverse the 2017 constitutional amendment enabling political control over the Council of Judges and Prosecutors, and ensure judicial independence.

This section states the sense of Congress that, if Turkey fails to address the listed human rights violations, the President should impose Global Magnitsky sanctions on responsible Turkish officials, confirm that U.S. security assistance meets statutory human rights conditions, and direct U.S. representatives at international financial institutions to oppose loans enabling such violations; the Secretary of State should also impose Khashoggi Ban visa restrictions on individuals engaged in extraterritorial suppression of journalists, activists, and dissidents and their families.

This section limits funds for Foreign Military Financing, Foreign Military Sales, or other security assistance to the Government of Turkey unless the Secretary of State certifies that Turkey has reduced the number of political prisoners and prisoners of conscience, ceased using counterterrorism and disinformation laws against peaceful expression, complied with European Court of Human Rights judgments including those on Osman Kavala and Selahattin Demirtas, and ended transnational repression. It authorizes a case-by-case waiver if the Secretary determines and reports that the waiver serves the vital national security interest of the United States.

This section directs the Secretary of State to provide assistance to civil society organizations in Turkey that work to secure the release of prisoners of conscience and political prisoners, as well as to current and former such prisoners. It supports documentation of human rights violations, advocacy to raise awareness of related issues, efforts to repeal or amend laws used to imprison individuals on political grounds, and the assignment of United States mission staff to observe trials in politically motivated cases, including in Southeast Turkey.

This section directs the Secretary of State to submit a report to the appropriate congressional committees within 180 days of enactment and annually for five years on implementation of the Act. The report must assess the number and conditions of political prisoners in Turkey, restrictions on freedoms of expression and the press, incidents of transnational repression, use of U.S.-origin goods for surveillance or censorship, efforts to suppress political opposition and amend the Turkish Constitution to consolidate power, and sanctions taken under the Act.

This section expands support by the Secretary of State and the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development for independent journalists and media outlets in Turkey, including those operating in exile; civil society organizations documenting human rights violations or assisting victims of politically motivated persecution; digital rights advocates and organizations enhancing secure communications, privacy, and cybersecurity for at-risk communities; and initiatives promoting human rights education, legal literacy, and public awareness of fundamental freedoms.