Austrian Government: Release Detained Journalist Immediately

Click to read the article in Turkish/Kurdish

Austrian Government Spokesperson Peter Launsky-Tieffenthal has issued a statement about Max Zirngast, who was detained by anti-terror teams yesterday (September 11).

We urge Turkey to explain reasons for the detention or release the journalist immediately”, the spokesperson said and added:

“Austria sides with freedom of press and expression. We are providing support to our detained citizen via Austrian Embassy”.

Working for Germany-based left-wing Re:volt magazine in Austria, Zirngast was taken into custody yesterday.

“He works for freedom and democracy”

Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has also called for release of Zirngast and stressed that Turkey is ranked 157th among 180 countries as of 2018 in World Press Freedom Index.

RSF Austria Branch has stated, “Different political views cannot be justification of detention and raid. We see that such crackdowns are on rise in Turkey”.

“We condemn this arrest in the strongest terms of course and call for his immediate release,” Re:volt said by email to Reuters.

He had written on “Siege of Kobane”

According to a report by Fırat News Agency, Zirngast is among the authors of the book titled “Siege of Kobane” published in Germany in 2015. (PT/TK)