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The 1927 murder in Turkey of a Jewish girl named Elza Niego by a Turkish official sparked an anti-government demonstration at her funeral that authorities regarded as criminal. This led to the arrest of 9 Jewish protestors.
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Murder
Elza Niego (22) was a typist of the National Insurance Company of Turkey. During a holiday at the Heybeli island, a Muslim Turkish official Osman Bey fell in love with her. Osman Bey, who was 30 years older than Elza, would follow Elza around the island. In despair, Elza Niego cut short her vacation and went home. Elza Niego eventually became engaged to a Jewish co-worker. Osman Bey, who was enraged by the engagement, pursued Elza Niego and stabbed her to death with a knife.
Aftermath
During the funeral, a demonstration was held in opposition to the Turkish government. This created an anti-Semitic reaction in the Turkish press. Nine protestors were immediately arrested under the charge of offending "Turkishness". Nine Jews and also a Russian individual witness to murder were arrested. Four of them were sentenced for "denigration of Turkishness".