Israel: Bail release for Turkish national contested

Israeli military prosecutors on Tuesday objected to a Turkish national under arrest for alleged links to terrorist groups being released on bail, her attorney said.

Omar Khamaysa, the lawyer for Ebru Ozkan, 27, told Anadolu Agency that the military court might reject the prosecutor’s objection to the release ruling during Wednesday’s hearing at the military court of Ofer, in the occupied West Bank, when Ozkan is set to appear.

The court on Monday ordered Ozkan released on 15,000 Israeli shekels ($4,125) bail, with her passport confiscated, and a requirement to sign in with police.

According to Khamaysa, Ozkan was arrested on charges of “threatening Israel’s security and having links with terrorist groups” — allegations she strenuously denies.

Turkey has objected to Israeli arresting Ozkan and vowed that it will respond.

READ: Israel set to indict Turkish woman 

She is not the first Turkish citizen to have been recently detained by Israeli authorities.

In January, Osman Hazir, a 46-year-old Turkish national, was arrested for snapping a selfie at East Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa Mosque while holding a Turkish flag.

And last December, Israel arrested Abdullah Kizilirmak and Mehmet Gargili after they quarreled with Israeli police who tried to bar them from entering the flashpoint holy site.

That same month, Adem Koc was arrested inside the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound for allegedly “disturbing the peace and taking part in an illegal demonstration”.

Kizilirmak, Gargili and Koc were all subsequently released on bail.