Journalist Ebru Umar Returns to Holland

Click to read the article in Turkish

International travel ban imposed on Dutch columnist Ebru Umar detained in Kuşadası over insulting President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has been lifted.

Following the lift of the ban, Umar moved to Holland from Turkey last night (May 10).

BBC Türkçe reported that while Dutch Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bert Koenders said they will follow the developments as to the investigation, stated that it is not clear whether a lawsuit will be brought over “insulting state authorities” as to Umar. Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte on Twitter said, “Good news, Ebru Umar is coming to Holland. That is a nice update”.

What had happened?

Dutch columnist Ebru Umar has been detained in Kuşadası district of İzmir on charge of “insulting the President”.

Umar in her column in Metro daily had criticized Turkey’s Rotterdam Embassy calling Turkish citizens residing in Rotterdam to “inform on the ones insulting the President”.

Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs declaring the developments as to the detention is being closely monitored, political parties and Dutch Journalists Union have condemned the detention against Umar.

Umar announced her detention on her Twitter account as “And police is at the door. It is not a joke”

Umar going online to Radio Holland had said she wanted to “get rid of Turkish citizenship”. (ÇT/TK)

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