Turkey: 43 Islamic extremists charged in connection with an Islamic State terror attack on a church in Istanbul

Image: Jihad Watch

An Istanbul court has approved an indictment against 43 individuals connected to a fatal assault on Santa Maria Church in the city’s Sarıyer district.

The accused, including the perpetrators of the attack, face charges that carry potential prison terms ranging from seven years and six months to 349 years and six months.

On January 28, two masked men attacked the church during a Sunday service, resulting in the death of 52-year-old Tuncer Cihan. The attack was later claimed by ISIL-K.

The court’s ruling comes after an investigation by the chief public prosecutor’s office, with 31 of the defendants currently in custody. A prior indictment had been rejected by the court due to procedural errors.

(This Article was originally published by Jihad Watch)