The case of the nine Jewish residents, tried for participating in a demonstration at the funeral services for the Jewish girl who was murdered by a Turkish captain in 1927, has now come before the Turkish High Court.
The High Court annulled the verdict of the lower court releasing the Jewish citizens and ordered a retrial. The charge brought against them was offense against the police and the Turkish law.
The Turkish Parliment also asked that they be brought to trial, charging them with “offense against Turkism.”
The nine Jewish residents were arrested by the Turkish police in August, 1927, during a protest demonstration at the funeral of Elsa Niego, a Jewish girl who was murdered by Osman Bey, a Turkish officer, for refusing to marry him. The demonstration started at the funeral of the girl, the majority of the demonstrants being Jewish girls who protested against the outrage shouting: “We want justice.” Osman Bey narrowly escaped being lynched by the crowd. He was taken into custody by the authorities under “preventive arrest” in order to protect him from possible danger. Traffic was interrupted in the streets during the demonstration.
The Turkish authorities took offense, declaring they were incensed at the behavior of the Jewish demonstrants.
At that time the case against the nine Constantinople Jews collapsed and the action against them was dismissed, the police being unable to produce any evidence against the prisoners. Witnesses denied the charge of the police that the arrested were in possession of arms. At that time a public prosecutor announced that he would reopen the case.
Osman Bey, the murderer of the Jewish girl, was acquitted following a medical report pronouncing him irresponsible for his actions.
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The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
