Charged with “being members of a terrorist organization” and “propagandizing for a terrorist organization”, 27 people including Etkin News Agency (ETHA) reporter and translator Meşale Tolu had their ninth hearing at the İstanbul 29th Heavy Penal Court on May 23.
Citizen of Germany Meşale Tolu was taken into custody in a house raid conducted on April 30, 2017. Referred to court on May 5, Tolu was arrested by İstanbul 9th Criminal Judgeship of Peace on charge of “membership in a terrorist organization”. She was sent to the Bakırköy Women’s Prison.
Announcing its interlocutory ruling, the court board has ruled for the continuation of judicial control measures. The anonymous witness will be heard in the hearings to come.
The next hearing will be held on February 25, 2020.
Announcing its interim decision at the hearing on February 25 , the court decided to send the file to the prosecution for the preparation of the opinion on the merits in case the requests for the extension of the prosecution were not accepted. The next hearing will be held on July 14 (25 February).
The court ruled to inquire whether there are other investigation or prosecution launched against Tolu and adjourned the meeting until 11 Feb 2021.
At the hearing held on February 11, 2021, the court board ruled that arrested defendant Volkan Uyar should be released. Rejecting the request of Meşale Tolu’s attorney for extending the prosecution, the court board ruled that the case file should be sent to the prosecutor’s office for the preparation of the opinion as to the accusations. The next hearing will be held on September 16-17 (February 11).
At the hearing held on September 16, 2021, the prosecutor demanded the acquittal of 13 people, including Meşale Tolu. Taking the lawyers’ requests into consideration, the judge of the court adjourned the hearing. The next hearing will be held on December 24 (September 16).
At the hearing held on December 24, 2021, the presiding judge stated that the prosecutor’s opinion as to the accusations had been pronounced at the previous hearing, but the ruling would not be handed down at the current hearing as the court board changed. The next hearing will be held on January 17, 2022 (December 24).
At the hearing held on January 17, 2022, journalist and translator Meşale Tolu was acquitted of “membership of a terrorist organization” and “propagandizing for a terrorist organization” (January 17).
