Thirteen Turkish nationalists have been charged for last month’s attack on three U.S. sailors on liberty in Istanbul.
The men accused of throwing a bag over one American’s head while screaming “Yankee, go home!” and “We want you out of our land!” face a lengthy prison sentence if convicted of causing insult and injury and violating protest laws.
Members of the Turkish Youth Union could serve up to a decade in prison if convicted of the Nov. 12 attack, according to an indictment published Thursday, Reuters reported.
Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said that all guilty parties will “pay the price” Reuters reported.
The Turkish Youth Union said at a news conference that it would continue to fight against “American imperialism even if [our members] were jailed for a hundred years,” according to Reuters.
There are roughly 2,000 U.S. troops currently stationed in Turkey. Most operate out of Incirlik Air Base in southern Turkey.
SEE ALSO: 3 U.S. Navy sailors attacked on shore in Turkey — ‘Yankee, go home!’
• Douglas Ernst can be reached at dernst@washingtontimes.com.
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