NASA Worker Released from Prison: Only Thing I Want is to Go Back to the US

* Photograph: Twitter

Click to read the article in Turkish / Kurdish

NASA worker Serkan Gölge, a Turkey and U.S. citizen who was put on trial in Turkey for "being a member of the FETÖ*", has been released from prison. Speaking to Reuters News Agency after his release, Gölge said that he wanted to go back to his job at NASA and the U.S.

Serkan Gölge was sentenced to 7 years, 6 months in prison for "membership of a terrorist organization" and, upon his objection, the conviction has been turned into "aiding a terrorist organization" and his prison term to 5 years.

'The only thing I want is to work at NASA again'

Giving his first interview after his release, Gölge has stated the following:

"Following this decision I was eligible to be released on probational basis. This requires me to go to a police station and give a signature and unfortunately not to be able to leave the country and go back to the U.S.

"At least I can say there is a light at the end of the tunnel. (...) The only thing I want right now is to be able to go back to the U.S. and start working at NASA again as a scientist."

Trump called Erdoğan to thank him

U.S. President Donald Trump called President and ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) Chair Recep Tayyip Erdoğan the other day and extended his thanks to him for the release of Serkan Gölge.

Stating that Gölge would "pretty soon" be able to leave Turkey for the US, President Trump also said, "They released this prisoner, hostage - whatever you want to call him and just want to thank President Erdoğan. We dealt with that, and he was - it was great." (PT/SD)

* Fethullahist Terrorist Organization, which is held responsible for the failed coup attempt on July 15, 2016