A group of 65 House Democrats wrote to Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Thursday urging him to take action in response to what they described as Turkey’s “alarming campaign of repression against LGBTQI+ people, human rights organizations, and advocates.”

They specifically highlighted a recent “crackdown” by Ankara starting in mid-September that they said represented a “dangerous and significant escalation,” with raids and arrests targeting HIV and LGBTQ civil society organizations and protesters, internet restrictions and efforts to dissolve human rights organizations.

“Together, these developments mark a dangerous new phase in the Erdogan regime’s efforts to use criminal law and the state apparatus to suppress legitimate human rights advocacy on behalf of the LGBTQI+ community,” the lawmakers, led by Reps. Yassamin Ansari (D-AZ) and Dina Titus (D-NV), said.

The lawmakers called on Rubio to undertake an “urgent diplomatic response” to protect basic rights for Turkish citizens, including using “all available channels to raise these concerns directly with the Turkish government,” work for the release of those arrested and monitor judicial proceedings related to these cases.

They said that Turkey is in violation of human rights agreements and that its actions are “an affront to basic human dignity and the values expected of a fellow NATO member.”

Other signatories included House Foreign Affairs Committee ranking member Rep. Greg Meeks (D-NY) and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA).

They also called on Rubio to provide an update on the State Department’s broader efforts to address human rights abuses by the Turkish government, describing the recent actions against the LGBTQ community as “part of a broader pattern of human rights violations and democratic backsliding in Turkey. We urge the Department to ensure that human rights are meaningfully integrated into all bilateral engagements and request a clear explanation of how the Department intends to do so.”

The lawmakers requested a response from Rubio by the end of the month.