German journalist remanded in custody in Turkey
A court in Turkey has remanded in custody a German journalist over terrorism charges in what could further escalate tensions between the country and the German government.
The court ordered Mesale Tolu on Wednesday to remain in jail pending trial over accusations of membership of the MLKP, a communist party with links to armed Kurdish groups.
Five other suspects were also remanded while eight people were released.
A total of 18 people face up to 20 years in jail over charges of being a member of a terrorist organization and publishing terrorist propaganda.
Tolu said during the Wednesday hearing in Silivri, near Istanbul, that she was innocent and demanded her immediate release.
“I have not committed any of the above mentioned crimes and have no connection with illegal organizations. I demand my release and my acquittal,” said Tolu, who was arrested in April and has been living with her three-year-old son in jail over the past five months as her husband has also been detained.
Tolu is among 11 German nationals caught in the wheels of a sweeping crackdown that unfolded following an unsuccessful coup last summer. The arrests have badly hit already strained ties between Germany and Turkey.
German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel reacted to the Turkish court’s extension of Tolu’s arrest, urging Turkish officials to immediately release her.
“We demand a fair trial, based on the rule of law. Above all, what matters now is speed so that Mesale Tolu can be released as soon as possible,” Gabriel said in an interview on Wednesday.
Berlin maintains that Turkish officials have gone well beyond the rule of law by jailing some 50,000 people over links to the coup and other terrorism-related charges. More than 150,000 people have also been dismissed from their jobs across Turkey over similar allegations.
Hamas denies reports about political bureau relocation to Turkey as false
BRICS offers Turkey partner status, says Turkish minister
Erdogan claims Turkey has 'severed all ties' with Israel
Israeli embassy shooting in Jordan leaves gunman dead, 3 police injured
VIDEO | Paris march in support of Palestine women
VIDEO | ICC issues arrest warrants for Israeli prime minister, ousted regime war minister
120 Palestinians perish as Israeli war machine keeps ravaging Gaza
VIDEO | Struggles of Palestinian women amidst war, displacement
VIDEO | Hezbollah rains attack drones down on elite Israeli brigade
VIDEO | US biased mediation fails
Leader: All captains of criminal, Zionist, terrorist gang must be prosecuted
PressTV NEWSLETTER
now
This makes it easy to access the Press TV website
