# 119-s-5205: Turkey Human Rights Promotion Act of 2026

119-s-5205, Turkey Human Rights Promotion Act of 2026, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Sen. Markey, Edward J. [D-MA] (D-MA); status introduced (as of 2026-08-14).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-5205
- As of: 2026-08-14
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-s-5205
- Congress: 119
- Title: Turkey Human Rights Promotion Act of 2026
- Status: introduced
- Introduced: 2026-07-30
- Sponsor: Sen. Markey, Edward J. [D-MA] (D-MA)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Policy area: International Affairs
- Touches household money: no
- Last recorded action: 2026-08-14

## Summary

**This bill would tie U.S. security assistance to measurable human‑rights improvements and judicial independence in Turkey.** It would also expand U.S. backing for political prisoners, independent media, and civil society while enabling targeted sanctions and visa restrictions for officials who commit or enable abuses. - Political prisoners and legal defenders: The bill would authorize U.S. programs to document abuses, support victims, advocate for unconditional release and expungement, and deploy mission staff to observe politically motivated trials. - Journalists and civil society: It would fund independent and exile media, digital‑rights and cybersecurity programs, and legal support to protect press freedom and restore access for outlets blocked by Turkish regulations. - U.S. security cooperation and accountability: The bill would condition Foreign Military Financing (FMF), Foreign Military Sales (FMS), and other security assistance on a State Department certification that Turkey is reducing prisoners of conscience, complying with European Court of Human Rights rulings, and ending transnational repression. It would require an initial report within 180 days and annual reports for five years and authorize targeted sanctions and visa restrictions with a narrow national‑security waiver.

## Provisions PRIA read

- Blocks security aid until rights improve: benefit, medium. If enacted, the bill would bar obligation or expenditure of U.S. security assistance (including Foreign Military Financing and Foreign Military Sales) for Turkey unless the Secretary of State certifies four things: Turkey has reduced the number of political prisoners and prisoners of conscience, in…
- More U.S. help for Turkish civil society: benefit, low. If enacted, the bill would require the State Department and USAID to expand assistance to Turkish civil society, independent and exile media, prisoners of conscience, and political prisoners. The bill would fund documenting abuses, advocacy, legal defense, victim services, and programs for secure c…
- Sanctions, visa bans, and export limits: benefit, low. If enacted, the bill would express congressional support for using Global Magnitsky sanctions on Turkish officials who detain political prisoners or target journalists. It would tell the State Department to impose visa restrictions under the Khashoggi Ban on people who engage in extraterritorial re…
- Who counts as a political prisoner: benefit, low. If enacted, the bill would define who is a "political prisoner" for the law. The bill would say a political prisoner includes people detained when detention violates core European Court of Human Rights guarantees, or when detention is imposed purely for political reasons, is disproportionately long…

## Related bills

- 119-s-2120: Older Americans Act Reauthorization Act of 2025
- 119-s-5071: Children's Safe Welcome Act of 2026
- 119-s-5022: Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act
- 119-s-2838: Protecting Our Democracy Act
- 119-s-2819: Head Start for America's Children Act
- 119-s-5283: Momnibus Act

## Sources
- [119-s-5205 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/5205)

## Related
- [119-s-2120: Older Americans Act Reauthorization Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-2120)
- [119-s-5071: Children's Safe Welcome Act of 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-5071)
- [119-s-5022: Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-5022)
- [119-s-2838: Protecting Our Democracy Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-2838)
- [119-s-2819: Head Start for America's Children Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-2819)
- [119-s-5283: Momnibus Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-5283)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-5205 (as of 2026-08-14).