A diplomatic dispute deepened when Turkey
summoned
It stems from a violent confrontation that
broke out
D.C.'s police chief called it "a brutal attack on peaceful protesters."
But now Turkey is requesting that "US authorities conduct a full investigation of this diplomatic incident and provide the necessary explanation."
The day after the incident, the Turkish Embassy blamed it on demonstrators, calling them, "groups affiliated with the PKK, which the U.S. and Turkey have designated as a terrorist organization." The embassy's statement goes on to say, "The demonstrators began aggressively provoking Turkish-American citizens who had peacefully assembled to greet the President. The Turkish-Americans responded in self-defense."
The U.S. State Department took a different stand. It released a
statement
The demonstration was arranged by pro-Kurdish and Armenian groups protesting a range of Erdogan policies.
Under his rule, Turkey has seen a crackdown on freedom of expression, with dozens of media outlets shuttered and an array of judges, journalists and civil servants jailed following last summer's failed coup attempt.
The New York Times
reports
Copyright 2017 NPR. To see more, visit
http://www.npr.org/