Four Germans detained in Turkey in recent days were released on Sunday. This was confirmed by a spokesman for the Foreign Office on Sunday evening. According to a report by the NDR, however, the freedmen are not allowed to leave Turkey and have to report to the police five times a week.
A court should decide in the coming days, how it continues for two still detained German citizens, it said in the NDR report. Among them was a teacher arrested on Thursday from Hamburg. Her arrest may have been linked to the involvement of her husband, who is chairman of the Kurdish community of Hamburg, or postings shared on her Facebook account. This was suggested by Mehmet Tanriverdi, spokesman for the Kurdish community.
According to a report by the pro-Kurdish news agency Mezopotamya, the other Germans are also accused of spreading propaganda and belonging to an illegal Kurdish organization.
In the past, German nationals had repeatedly been arrested during Turkish visits for critical statements on charges of "terrorist propaganda". In 2017, a large number of arrests triggered a serious crisis between Germany and Turkey for "political reasons". Many of those affected were allowed to leave in the meantime, but their processes continue in their absence.
In its travel and security information on Turkey, the Federal Foreign Office expressly warns that critical contributions to online networks can lead to arrests: "Arrests and prosecutions of German nationals have often occurred in connection with anti-government statements in the social media or 'like' a foreign post corresponding content. "
In the meantime, the Foreign Office is no longer telling how many Germans are being detained in Turkey for political reasons, such as terror charges or presidential insults.
