International Travel Ban on Journalist Meşale Tolu Lifted

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The journalist and translator Meşale Tolu has announced that the international travel ban imposed on her has been lifted.

Tolu shared a message on her Twitter account today (August 20) and stated that her international travel ban has been overturned. She also announced that her next hearing will be held on October 16, 2018.

Avukatlarımın (@EzilenlerinHB ) yaptığı başvuru sonucu yurtdışı yasağım kaldırıldı. Tüm süreç boyunca yanımda olan, bana destek olan herkese teşekkür ederim. Yargılamam 16 Ekim’de devam edecek.

— Meşale Tolu (@mesale_tolu) 20 Ağustos 2018

Tolu shared the following message on Twitter:

"As a result of the application made by my attorneys (@EzilenlerinHB), my international travel ban has been removed. I extend my thanks to everyone who has been with me and supported me during the whole process. My trial will continue on October 16."

Having been arrested for eight months, Meşale Tolu was released from prison on December 18, 2017. She has been facing up to 15 years in prison on charges of "propagandizing for a terrorist organization" and "being member of a terrorist organization."

OSCE: All charges should be dropped

The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Representative on the Freedom of Media, Harlem Desir posted messages about Tolu both on his and OSCE Media Reform's official Twitter accounts.

I am relieved that travel ban on journalist @mesale_tolu
lifted and that she can now leave #Turkey. Hope that next step will be
dropping all charges against her. @OSCE_RFoM

— Harlem Désir (@harlemdesir) 20 Ağustos 2018

Desir said, "I am relieved that travel ban on journalist Meşale Tolu lifted and that she can now leave Turkey. Hope that next step will be dropping all charges against her."

What happened?

Citizen of Germany Meşale Tolu was taken into custody in a house raid conducted on April 30, 2017.

Referred to court on May 5, Tolu was arrested by İstanbul 9th Criminal Judgeship of Peace on charge of "being a member of an illegal organization". She was sent to the Bakırköy Women's Prison.

Tolu's husband Suat Çorlu was also arrested pending trial. The 3-year-old child of the couple stayed with them in prison by turns.

While Suat Çorlu was released on November 28, 2017, Meşale Tolu was released on December 18, 2017. (TP/SD)