Journalists from Germany Leave Turkey, Germany's Travel Warning Updated

Click to read the article in Turkish

Jörg Brase and Thomas Seibert, two journalists from Germany, left Turkey yesterday (March 10) after having their press card applications rejected by the Presidency Directorate of Communications.

Brase, who has been the chief of ZDF television channel's İstanbul bureau since January 2018, said before leaving Turkey that he has not been given a reason for the rejection of his press card application, in a statement to the Deutsche Welle's Turkish service.

"At least there is no reason for a judicial examination. Turkey also has a press law that I have not broken, at least as far as I am aware," said Brase.

CLICK - Germany Denounces Turkey for Not Extending Accreditation of 3 Journalists

"This is a message to the Western press"

Der Tagesspiegel am Sonntag newspaper's İstanbul reporter Thomas Seibert has been working in Turkey since 1997.

"I don't think it's about anything I have written. I think it's a message to the Western press. They need a scapegoat or two or three, and I was one of the unlucky ones," Seibert told DW Turkish.

Minister of Interior: "First detention, than yalla!"

Minister of Interior Süleyman Soylu said on March 3, "We have taken measures for those who attend the terrorist organization's meetings in Europe or Germany and come to Antalya, Bodrum, Muğla for vacation. Come on, come and enter the airports. Not that easy; they will be first detained, than yalla! (An Arabic expression for 'come on', or 'let's go')."

Foreign Ministry of Germany updates travel warning

Foreign Ministry of Germany updated its travel warning to Turkey yesterday, saying that its citizens have been arbitrarily arrested in the country over the last two years.

Citing Soylu's words, the Ministry said, "Statements, which are covered by the German legal understanding of the freedom of expression, can lead in Turkey to occupational restrictions and criminal proceedings. It cannot be ruled out that the Turkish government will take further action against representatives of German media and civil society organizations".

The Ministry also warned those who may have attended meetings organized by groups banned in Turkey, saying that they risk being detained.

Foreign Minister of Germany Heiko Maas also criticized Turkey, saying, "When journalists are prevented from doing their work, that is incompatible with our understanding of press freedom," in a statement to the Tagesspiegel.

What happened?

Journalists Seibert and Brase were informed on March 1 that their accreditations have not been extended.

The press card issued by the Presidency Directorate of Communications is a necessary document for foreign press members to work and get a residence permit in Turley.

Along with Jörg Brase and Thomas Seibert, Halil Gülbeyaz, who works for the NDT television, also had his application rejected. (PT/VK)