Turkish Guards in DC Brawl Outside Embassy Likely To Avoid Consequences

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s bodyguards were reportedly involved in a melee with peaceful anti-Erdogan protestors in D.C. Tuesday. The Prime Minister had been at the White House just hours earlier meeting with President Trump. Among other topics, the two discussed the recent U.S. decision to arm Kurdish fighters in the fight against ISIS in Syria. Turkey opposes that action, maintaining that the Kurdish fighters are linked to terrorists.

Against this backdrop, anti-Erdogan protestors gathered in front of the Turkish Embassy. According to the Guardian, witnesses said that the brawl erupted when guards rushed protestors carrying the flag of the Kurdish opposition party.

On Facebook, Vice News posted a brutal video showing the clash between protestors and guards in suits that began in front of the Embassy and spilled across the street into the park. Guards can be seen punching and kicking people in the head. Protestors were bleeding and D.C. police can be seen trying to get the situation under control.

On Wednesday both D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser and the State Department issued official statements. Bowser stated:

"What we saw yesterday – a violent attack on a peaceful demonstration – is an affront to DC values and our rights as Americans. I strongly condemn these actions and have been briefed by Chief Newsham on our response. The Metropolitan Police Department will continue investigating the incident and will work with federal partners to ensure justice is served."

The State Department issued this official response:

"We are concerned by the violent incidents involving protestors and Turkish security personnel Tuesday evening. Violence is never an appropriate response to free speech, and we support the rights of people everywhere to free expression and peaceful protest.

We are communicating our concern to the Turkish government in the strongest possible terms."

Police reported that nine people were injured, two seriously enough to be taken to the hospital. Two were arrested, though none of them were the Turkish guards. They are protected by diplomatic immunity, and so not subject to U.S. law enforcement.

Diplomatic immunity is a form of legal protection that ensures diplomats are given safe passage and are considered not susceptible to lawsuit or prosecution under the host country's laws. That immunity can be waived by their home country, but that only happens rarely and in the case of very serious crimes where charges have been filed. Alternately, the home country can choose to punish the individuals.

Erdoğan has been accused of cracking down on journalists and other opposition figures to consolidate his power, and has not made any statements of intent to punish his security detail for the brawl.

Though they are not subject to U.S. law enforcement, diplomatic immunity does allow for foreign diplomats to be expelled. California Rep. Zoe Lofgren, the top Democrat on the House Immigration subcommittee, called for the guards to be arrested and their visas revoked, reported the Washington Times:

"Yesterday’s attackers should be arrested immediately and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. And if Erdoğan bodyguards who participated in this attack have entered the country on diplomatic visas, those visas should be revoked right away.Their assault was not just on individual protestors, but an open assault on our collective First Amendment rights"

Republican Senator John McCain (AZ) tweeted on Wednesday, "This is the United States of America. We do not do this here. There is no excuse for this kind of thuggish behavior." On MSNBC’s Morning Joe Thursday morning he stated that he would “throw the [Turkish] ambassador out.”

In a statement the Turkish embassy blamed the protestors:

“The violence and injuries were the result of this unpermitted, provocative demonstration. We hope that, in the future, appropriate measures will be taken to ensure that similar provocative actions causing harm and violence do not occur”

No word yet from the State Department if they are considering taking any formal action against Turkish officials or security.

Do you think Erdoğan’s bodyguards that were involved in the incident should be arrested and expelled from the U.S.? Use the Take Action button to tell your reps what you think!

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— Asha Sanaker

(Photo Credit: Wikimedia /Creative Commons)*