ARD Reporter Deported

Click here to read the article in Turkish / Haberin Türkçesi için buraya tıklayın

Germany’s public channel ARD’s Cairo bureau manager, Volker Schwenck detained in Atatürk Airport as he attempted to enter Turkey via İstnabul has been deported in the evening hours of yesterday.

The 48-year-old journalist has been making reports on the Middle East and Syria. Schwenck was detained as he came to İstanbul from Cairo to make report on refugees on Turkey-Syria border. He was given “inadmissible passenger” form as to entry ban without introducing any justification.

After being staying for 12 hours at the section where the deportees are kept, he was sent to Cairo.

Schwenck’s channel Southwestern Germany Radio Television Institute (SWR) in its report as to Schwenck released a message of condemnation. The message expressed that “The situation Schwenck faced is a signifier of current condition of freedom of the press and expression in Turkey”.

Merkel: We follow the developments worriedly

In the news on Deutsche Welle (DW) Türkçe, German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s evaluation has been included as well.

Merkel saying they are paying attention into this matter noted that they see the developments and follow them worriedly.

“In order to enable the journalist to work again, German Minister of Foreign Affairs has contacted Turkish posts”, added Merkel.

SWR also covered Vice Prime Minister, Sigmar Gabriel’s comment that “I hope government of Turkey will correct its mistake promptly”.

Reaction from German Journalists Association

DW Türkçe included reactions of German Journalists Union (DJV) and Greens MP, Tabea Rössner.

DJV interpreted the entry denial as “ill-intention”. While DJV describes the detention of Schwenck as a revenge of Böhmermann case, German Journalists Association in its statement drew attention to how understanding of freedom of the press and information is disputable in Turkey.

Call from MP to Merkel

Greens MP, Tabea Rössner urged Merkel to bring up the subject of freedom of the press at her visit to Turkey to be held on Saturday.

“Detention of Schwenck is unfortunately a representational policy with respect to how freedom of the press and expression functions in Turkey in the recent months”, Rössner said.

Der Spiegel correspondent too had to leave the country

Der Spiegel’s Turkey correspondent, Hasnain Kazim’s application for press card was rejected and Kazim had to leave Turkey in March. (BK/TK)