Overview

• Ibtissem, 21, and her friend Mariam appeared before a Turkish court after their February arrest at Istanbul airport, with a maximum exposure of sixteen years and eight months in prison.
• Turkish police say they found a large quantity of cannabis in two padlocked suitcases during a layover, after the bags were handed to the women in Bangkok.
• The defendants say they were deceived by a man who arranged the luggage and told them it contained counterfeit goods intended for their acquaintance.
• Their French lawyer reports very difficult detention in Silivri and says the women did not understand documents they signed due to a language barrier.
• A parallel inquiry opened in August by the Amiens prosecutor is examining the alleged intermediary, whom the lawyer says obtained a mobile phone in detention; the prosecutor has not commented.