Twelve Turkish Jews who were arrested and released and later tried and acquitted for participation in a demonstration at the funeral of the Jewish girl Elsa Niego, murdered two years ago by a prominent Turkish officer, Osman Bey, will again face trial on May 28.
The charge brought against the prominent Constantinople citizens is anti-Turkish feeling.
The twelve were among a group who were stricken by grief at the untimely death of the young Jewish girl who was murdered by Osman Bey because she repulsed his attentions. Osman Bey was released as irresponsible.
When first arrested they were tried before a local tribunal. The general prosecutor renewed the case before the Court of Appeals, which has now confirmed the decision of the tribunal to acquit them of the charge. The prosecutor, however, has now brought the case before the first Court of Appeals of Constantinople demanding “a satisfactory sentence for offense against Turkism.”
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