[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 148 (Thursday, September 6, 2018)]
[House]
[Page H7900]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                           ERDOGAN THE BULLY

  (Mr. POE of Texas asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute.)
  Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, our supposed Turkish allies are 
holding Americans hostage. At least two Americans, Andrew Brunson and 
Serkan Golge, are being held by the Turkish regime on fake charges.
  President Erdogan, an Islamist who has arrested thousands of Turks 
who oppose him and puts them in jail, believes that he can also 
imprison Americans and use them as bargaining chips. He hopes that he 
can trade American hostages for his political opponents that have fled 
Turkey.
  Even if the individuals Erdogan wanted had clearly committed crimes, 
which there is absolutely no evidence they have, we should never engage 
in rewarding Turkey for taking hostages.
  Erdogan the bully has proven he has no respect for the rule of law, 
and, instead, rules by fear, intimidation, threats, and terror. We must 
not assist him in his destruction of his own democracy.
  American hostages like Pastor Andrew Brunson, who has been held for 
more than 600 days, must be returned immediately to America. Until 
then, Turkey should no longer be considered an ally of Americans but a 
kidnapper of Americans.
  And that is just the way it is.

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