A Turkish ex-employee of the U.S. consulate in Istanbul, Metin Topuz, has been released from prison, according to Bloomberg News on Monday. This comes three years after Topuz was convicted of aiding a terrorist organization, a case that had significantly strained bilateral relations. In June 2020, a Turkish court sentenced Topuz to eight years and nine months in jail, contributing to tensions between the NATO allies.
Topuz’s lawyers were not immediately available for comment, and Bloomberg’s report was attributed to individuals with knowledge of the matter. The foreign ministry also did not provide an immediate response.
“We are aware of reports about Metin Topuz. Out of respect for the Topuz family’s wishes, we have nothing further to offer,” stated a spokesman for the U.S. consulate in Istanbul.
Topuz, who served as a Drug Enforcement Agency liaison officer at the Istanbul consulate, faced accusations of ties to individuals associated with U.S.-based Islamic cleric Fethullah Gulen’s network, which Turkey holds responsible for the failed 2016 military coup. Arrested a year after the coup attempt, Topuz’s reported release is said to be due to time served.
The United States had contested Topuz’s conviction, stating it saw “no credible evidence” supporting the court’s decision. The case was deemed to undermine confidence in Turkey’s institutions and erode the trust foundational to Turkish-U.S. relations. In a related development, another U.S. consulate employee received a five-year jail sentence in October 2020 for aiding the same network, while a third employee had previously served two years on terrorism charges.
