News

Turkey: German journalist Mesale Tolu to be released pending trial

A court in Istanbul has ordered the release of the German journalist. Turkish authorities arrested Mesale Tolu in April for producing "terrorist propaganda," a charge often used to jail journalists and media workers.

A Turkish court on Monday ordered the release of German journalist and translator Mesale Tolu pending trial in Istanbul, according to observers.

Heike Hänsel, a German lawmaker of the Left party attending the trial as an observer, tweeted that the court allowed her release under the condition she adhere to a travel ban and compulsory registration.

Tolu was arrested in April for allegedly producing "terrorist propaganda" while working for a leftist news agency, a charge human rights groups have criticized as a targeted crackdown on free speech.

She has also been accused of being a "member of a terrorist organization," namely Turkey's left-wing extremist Marxist-Leninist Community Party. Tolu has repeatedly denied all charges leveled against her.

Activists have protested the detention of Mesale Tolu, calling on Turkey to release her without condition

'Great thing'

Following the announcement of her conditional release, German Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Adebahr described it as a "great thing."

The German government has called for her unconditional release. Chancellor spokesman Steffen Seibert said the conditional release marked "in no way an end to the case of Mesale Tolu."

Five other detainees involved in the case were released on Monday alongside the 33-year-old journalist, according to media reports.

Release 'all political prisoners'

German lawmaker Cem Özdemir of the Green party welcomed the decision, but warned that it meant little would change in the country. Instead, Özdemir called on Ankara to release "all political prisoners and German citizens."

Tolu is one of several German journalists who have been imprisoned in Turkey for allegedly producing "terrorist propaganda," including Deniz Yücel of Die Welt newspaper.

Relations between German and Turkey have taken a nosedive in the wake of a failed coup that witnessed Ankara launch a major crackdown on security, defense, education and judicial sectors.

Watch video 03:18

Trial of journalist Mesale Tolu resumes in Turkey

ls/ng (dpa, Reuters)

DW recommends

Detained German Mesale Tolu appears in Istanbul court

German citizen Mesale Tolu has been in custody in Turkey for almost eight months. Her trial has resumed in Istanbul, with prosecutors demanding her release. Julia Hahn reports from Istanbul. (17.12.2017)

Peter Steudtner: Detained activists in Turkey face 'unfair' judicial system

Peter Steudtner, the German rights activist who was detained for four months in Istanbul, has told DW about life in Turkish prison. He decried Turkey's judicial system, where German citizens are held without charge. (08.12.2017)

Turkey due to defend jailing of German journalist Deniz Yücel

As the German-Turkish journalist Deniz Yücel awaits trial in Istanbul, Ankara is on deadline to submit its defense of his detention to Europe's human rights court. DW spoke with Yücel's lawyer and wife. (24.10.2017)