In September 2025, an İstanbul court convicted 19 women and girls on terrorism-related charges due to their alleged association with the faith-based Gülen movement, which the Turkish government designates as a terrorist organisation. The case, known as the “girls’ trial,” involved women and girls, including high school students, accused solely on the basis of routine religious, educational and social activities.

The İstanbul 24th High Criminal Court sentenced 11 defendants to between six years, three months and seven years, six months for membership in a terrorist organisation, and eight others to three years, one month and 15 days for aiding a terrorist organisation, under Article 314 of the Turkish Penal Code. Nineteen other defendants were acquitted. None of the alleged acts involved violence, weapons or incitement.

The 529-page indictment cited activities such as Qur’an study, tutoring, attending social gatherings and living in shared student apartments as evidence. Many of the defendants were detained during early morning police raids in May 2024. Defence lawyers argued that the case demonstrated no organisational hierarchy or criminal conduct, and that communications cited as evidence concerned ordinary matters such as rent and bills.

The trial drew international observers from European and US-based organisations, who raised concerns about due process, judicial conduct and the broad application of terrorism laws to non-violent religious practice and association. The verdict is expected to be appealed.

The case forms part of Turkey’s wider crackdown on real or perceived members of the Gülen movement, under which more than 126,000 people have been convicted since 2016, with thousands more still imprisoned or under investigation.