As Deniz Yücel on a cold February day last year in front of the gate of the high security prison in Silivri, near Istanbul, and entered his wife Dilek embraced, there was hope for a normalization of the crisis-ridden German-Turkish relations.
Chancellor Angela Merkel had campaigned for the release of the “world”-journalists, sat a twelve months in prison and then suddenly was released. However, a year after Yücels release on November 16. February 2018 is the hope for normal relations scattered. The pressure of the Turkish government on alleged enemies of the state continues unabated.
“To the office and Would come Criminals”
In an article for the “the world”, said Yücel now with his wife, the supporters, the Federal government and his newspaper for their help during the arrest. At the same time, he reiterated his criticism of the Turkish authorities, which he described as “office and Would come Criminals”.
After his release, Yücel had accompanied his seriously ill father on his last path. Soon Yücels to appear in new book. The planned title: “agent terrorist: As I once triggered a severe diplomatic crisis, and why it is not enough to be concerned.”
Nowhere in the world will arrest a lot of journalists like in Turkey, the US Committee to protect journalists. According to a census by the Turkish journalists ‘ Association TGC 142 media representatives sat at the beginning of the year, behind bars.
On the 16. February 2018, was released by Deniz Yücel. The case has weighed on the German-Turkish relations.Photo: Ralf Hirschberger/dpa
The Turkish government rejects all allegations of harassment of journalists. From their point of view, there is not a single Reporter who is sitting because of his work in detention. In all cases, to criminal offences such as involvement in the attempted coup of 2016.
will, However, be evaluated according to this view, even critical expressions of opinion as an attack on the state. In some cases, the indictment is missing. The patron of the arts Osman Kavala is about, has been sitting for 15 months in the prison in Silivri. He had not yet been questioned once by the Prosecutor’s office, told Kavala. In detention, he still remains.
Who qualifies as a follower of the preacher Gülen is an enemy of the state
treated at All roles, always new took waves over the Land. The judiciary takes action against alleged enemies of the state, such as the followers of the preacher Fethullah Gülen. Gulen, a former political Partner of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, is regarded by the government as the mastermind of the coup attempt of 2016.
just this week, were again taken up more than 700 Suspects, including at least 130 police officers. Since the attempted coup are dismissed according to the government, more than 100,000 officials and over 30,000 people because of membership in the gülen’s movement have been detained.
many of the accused and Convicted, to accommodate, to be built in the next few years, more than 200 new prisons.
Also the room for manoeuvre for the political Opposition will close. Several members of the Kurdish party HDP is the third strongest force in Parliament – to sit in detention. Including the former party leader Selahattin Demirtas.
A protest rally of the remaining HDP deputies this week in Istanbul was prevented by police. “They stop us by illegal means,” said one of the HDP representatives, Parliament Vice-President Mithat Sancar, the daily mirror – while police officers in battle regalia, the representatives of the people surrounded.
the Foreign office warns of fixed
foreigners ‘ opinions are getting in the mills of the Turkish judiciary. “In the past two years, the German government imprisoned members of arbitrary,” – said in the Travel advice of the foreign office for Turkey.
“arrests and prosecutions of German government took the pair several times in connection with government-critical comments in the social media. However, such Statements are covered in accordance with German legal understanding of the freedom of expression can give rise to criminal proceedings in Turkey.“
be Especially affected German with Turkish roots such as Yücel, warns the state Department. “From the above-mentioned measures, in particular, but not limited to German nationals with close private and personal ties to Turkey, as well as persons who own in addition to the German and Turkish nationality are affected.”
About half a dozen German due to political allegations in custody
About a half-dozen German citizens, due to political accusations in Turkey in custody. Berlin speaks of the arbitrariness of the Turkish authorities. In a recent report, several associations of Journalists for the Council of Europe is of a “nearly complete collapse of the rule of law in Turkey”.
foreign Minister Heiko Maas stressed during his visit to Turkey last year, he wanted to lead a critical dialogue with the Turkish government, including the detained German citizens. Concrete results he could not take it home with you.
President Erdogan, is rigorously opposed to any Form of Opposition.Photo: Adem Altan/AFP
The discussion about the right way to deal with the Turkey. Berlin had to be limited to the arrest of Yücel and of the Berlin-based human rights campaigner Peter Steudtner the state Hermes export credit guarantees for Turkey-shopping, official travel advice for the country tightened, and talks about an expansion of the customs Union between EU and Turkey is blocked.
Still, the case is not done Yücel
Possibly as a result of these measures, Yücel was released shortly after a visit of the then Turkish Prime Minister, Binali Yildirim, in the case of Merkel in Berlin. In order to preserve the Form, submitted to the justice on the day of its release a sudden charge, the demanded 18 years in prison for him.
Yücel himself said several months after his release, in an Interview with the “world”, Turkey is “extremely dependent on the foreign countries”. This could, and had to work through the policy. “The Turkish Regime hopes that it can separate in the external relations policy and business. I think it would be wrong to play this game.“
Completely out of the case, Yücel has not stood up today. The proceedings against the journalists for terror propaganda continues in his absence and is to be continued in April. The competent court wants to can Yücel to consult in Germany, the accusations. The approval from Berlin stands for.
accusation: terror propaganda – German citizens in detention
Around 50 German are due to various allegations in Turkey in custody – about one in every tenth of the Federal government of a political Background to the detention. An Overview:
Giessen Patrick Kraicker was taken up last spring in Silopi on the Syrian border in Southeast Anatolia. Turkish government, according to media he admitted that he had in Syria, the Kurdish militia YPG connect, a sister organization of the outlawed PKK.
Kraicker said, however, that he did want to hike in the border area. He was sentenced to six years and three months in prison. His lawyer intends to appeal the decision.
Nearly four weeks after Kraickers conviction, the Kurdish-born German singer Hozan Cane in November, and a penalty was awarded, because she is said to have spread Propaganda for the terror organization PKK.
The Turkish-born German citizens, Adnan Sutcu was imprisoned at the End of December due to alleged enemy of the state – of-Facebook-posts in Ankara. A little later Sutcu was set to walk free, but he is not allowed to leave Turkey.
The Hamburger Ilhami Farce , which was made because of alleged “terrorist propaganda” in court, also received a travel ban.
since August, 2017, the 74-year-old Enver Altayli in Turkey. Altayli, who owns the German and the Turkish citizenship, is a former employee of the Turkish secret service. Enver Altayli is accused of involvement in the coup attempt of 2016. President Erdogan has called him publicly an “agent”.
After about ten months in custody, the social worker Adil Demirci from Cologne. A court in Istanbul ruled on Thursday. Demirci had been arrested last April during a visit in Turkey on suspicion of membership in a terrorist organization. Demirci but are not allowed to leave the country to Germany. The process is to on 30. April, to be continued.
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Turkey Dilek Dündar: “I’m being held as a hostage for my husband”
Susanne Güsten
the Translator, Mesale Tolu Demirci worked for small left-wing news Agency ETHA. And as Tolu he is accused of, at burials and commemorative extremists celebrate for the left to have participated. Tolu came after several months of pretrial detention in December 2017-free and could now leave the Turkey.