Defendants know they have a strong case when the prosecutor "demands" acquittal.

Hakan Tastan and Turan Topal, two Turkish converts from Islam to Christianity, were charged last year with insulting Turkish identity and Islam.  This week, their accusers finally appeared in a court of law and submitted to cross-examination by defence lawyers.  A state prosecutor finds the evidence against the accused utterly without merit.

State Prosecutor Ahmet Demirhuyuk told the Silivri Criminal Court on Wednesday (July 18) that there was "not a single concrete, credible piece of evidence" to support the accusations filed against Hakan Tastan and Turan Topal nine months ago.
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In his remarks to the court, the state prosecutor declared it was clear from the defendants' testimony that they were converted Christians committed to spreading their religion. But he noted that their accusers remained unable to substantiate their claims that the two men had cursed Turkey and Islam and then tried to force them to accept Christianity and be baptized.

Mr Demirhuyuk pointed out that Turkey has no law against practicing Christianity or spreading the faith.  Indeed, these rights are expressly guaranteed by the country’s constitution.

A verdict is expected at the next court hearing on 12 September.

Earlier this month, Mr Tastan and Mr Topal were fined for collecting money—tithes and offerings, to be precise—without official approval.  Their lawyer is working on getting that bogus charge reversed.

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