German FM Says Yücel is Turkey’s Hostage

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German Minister of Foreign Affairs Sigmar Gabriel has said “Deniz Yücel is still in prison because in my opinion Turkey has taken him hostage.”

According to Deutsche Welle, minister Gabriel interviewed with Buzzfeed News Deutschland. Stating that the German government has economic and diplomatic tools to accomplish the release of Yücel, Gabriel said, “We would not occupy Turkey.”

"It might be better not to take Erdoğan so seriously"

Referring to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Gabriel said, “For a long time, we have tried a rational stance against him. Sometimes it might be better not to take him so seriously.”

Three German citizens are in Turkish prisons

Three German citizens have been in jail in Turkey.

These three figures are Deniz Yücel who was arrested on charge of “terror propaganda” and has been in jail since February, ETHA translator Meşale Tolu who arrested on charges of “illegal organization propaganda” and “being a member of an illegal organization” and has been in jail since May, and rights advocate Peter Steudtner who was first detained in Büyükada and then arrested.

German Ambassador to Turkey Martin Erdmann will visit Yücel and Steudtner in Silivri Prison next week. Steudtner was not allowed to see anyone even though he had a right to receive support from the embassy as a German citizen. This will be the first visit since his arrest in July. (EA/TK)