As of: March 9, 2024, 1:06 p.m
By: Christoph Hoffmann
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Patrick Kraicker from Giessen was arrested while on vacation and has been in custody ever since.
The regular prison term ends on June 23, 2024.
Gießen – Claudia Schmuck has done a lot over the past six years to be able to hug her son.
She traveled to Turkey, where Patrick Kraicker from Giessen has been in prison since 2018, and spoke to politicians, diplomats and committed, renowned human rights lawyers.
All to no avail: “We assume that there will be no early release,” says Schmuck.
There is currently another application for this, but after the many rejections in recent years, Schmuck and her son's supporters don't think they have much of a chance.
“We and my son have now come to terms with it,” says the mother.
The good news: On June 23, 2024, the regular prison term expires and Kraicker's freedom awaits.
Claudia Schmuck hopes to be able to hug her son again soon.
© Editor
Light in Gießener Kraicker's cell on for 24 hours
The young man from Giessen was caught on March 14, 2018 in a Turkish restricted area on the Syrian border.
He was accused of crossing the border into Syria to join the Kurdish militia YPG.
Friends and family emphasize that he only wanted to go hiking in Turkey.
After his hotel room was broken into, a man hitchhiked and abandoned him in the restricted area.
The court saw it differently and sentenced the man from Giessen to a prison sentence of six years and three months in a trial that lasted just a few days.
By the way, the YPG is not banned in Germany.
Even if Kraicker had wanted to join the Kurdish militia, he would not have faced any punishment for doing so in this country.
Turkey, on the other hand, classifies the YPG as a terrorist organization - and the Giessen resident as a terrorist.
Kraicker has been in prison for almost six years.
A lot has happened in Turkey over the years, such as the failed coup against ruler Recep Erdogan in 2016 or the devastating earthquake at the beginning of 2023. However, Kraicker didn't see much of it; his eyes were always on prison walls.
Within this, the man from Giessen also had to deal with crises.
His mother repeatedly reported harassment from guards, prison authorities and fellow inmates.
Kraicker was moved several times without knowing when or why.
Gießener Kraicker has plans for the time after prison
»My son is doing well under the circumstances.
Patrick continues to be very brave and withstands all the harassment," says Schmuck.
At the moment the light in her son's cell is sometimes left on for 24 hours.
“There won’t be any more complaints from us now,” says Schmuck and emphasizes: “We very much hope that there will be no more major difficulties by the time he is discharged and that my son will come home safely.”
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Schmuck assumes that her son will have to spend a few more days in detention before he is actually allowed to fly to Germany.
Schmuck doesn't yet know exactly what will happen next.
But one thing is clear: »Patrick will definitely live with us in Hildesheim for the time being.
A private and family environment has priority.« (chh)