[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 59 (Tuesday, May 12, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E824]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


             AKIN BIRDAL--VOICE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS IN TURKEY

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. CHRISTOPHER H. SMITH

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, May 12, 1998

  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, many in the human rights 
community were horrified to learn of the shooting of Akin Birdal, 
President of Turkey's Human Rights Foundation, by unidentified armed 
gunmen at his offices in Ankara. Mr. Birdal, a widely recognized and 
respected human rights advocate, appeared before the Helsinki 
Commission in the early 1990s and most recently met with members of a 
Commission delegation that visited Turkey in January. Today's attack 
occurred against the backdrop of an ongoing campaign of harassment 
against human rights NGOs in Turkey. The Human Rights Foundation, 
Turkey's largest human rights monitoring group, has had numerous 
offices closed down by the Turkish authorities. The Foundation's 
leadership, including Mr. Birdal, has been repeatedly targeted for 
prosecution.
  The attack against Akin Birdal in a very real sense is an assault on 
Turkey's fledgling civil society. The development of a genuine civil 
society is essential if Turkey hopes to develop into a true democracy. 
Mr. Speaker, instead of viewing human rights advocates like Mr. Birdal 
as adversaries, Turkey's leaders should embrace these courageous 
individuals as allies and form a partnership with those dedicated to 
democracy, human rights, and the rule of law. Our prayers go out to Mr. 
Birdal and his family in the aftermath of this senseless act.

                          ____________________