A Turkish court acquitted archaeologist Muazzez Ilmiye Cig, 93, on charges stemming from her published scholarly work, ending a case that drew widespread attention in Türkiye.
Cig is the author of several books, including one in which she wrote letters to public figures addressing social developments from a republican perspective, covering topics ranging from language to headscarves. She also authored a volume examining Babylonian influences on the Koran, the Bible, and the Torah.
Despite her age, Cig remains intellectually active. She reportedly took up computer use at 85, a detail that drew admiration from commentators who praised her mental vitality.
Supporters gathered at the courthouse during the proceedings, and the public prosecutor and judge who secured her acquittal received praise from observers who argued that in other countries Cig would have been honored rather than prosecuted. Commentators expressed hope that the verdict would not deter her from continuing to write.
Historical summary. TurkishPress restated this wire report, first published in November 2006, in its own words.