July 2025
Letter in Support of Complete Acquittal in the “Girls’ Trial” on Religious Freedom Grounds Before Final Sentencing on July 18, 2025
Letter in Support of Release and Acquittal of All Detained Students and Family Members in Istanbul, Turkey
SIGNATURE COUNT: 365
The IRF Community and Rumi Forum are circulating a letter regarding the urgent need to advocate for the complete acquittal of 41 women and girls on trial in Istanbul, Turkey, whose peaceful religious practices have been unjustly criminalized. Known as the “Girls’ Trial,” this case involves high school students, university attendees, and mothers who face terrorism charges for engaging in routine acts of Muslim faith—such as group prayer, Qur’an study, and spiritual gatherings—due to their alleged affiliation with the Hizmet (Gülen) movement. The final sentencing is scheduled for July 18, 2025. The letter, addressed to U.S. IRF leaders, urges immediate international advocacy to uphold religious freedom and prevent the further misuse of anti-terror laws to suppress women’s faith-based lives.
Informative Sources:
Turkish Minute. (2025, February 20). Rights advocate decried terrorism charge against high school girls for associating with peers. Turkish Minute.
Turkish Minute. (2025, February 18). 3 defendants released, 2 remain jailed in trial of high school girls on terrorism charges. Turkish Minute.