A representative of the German embassy was once again allowed to visit Deniz Yücel. Ambassador Martin Erdmann visited the detained journalist in prison. Federal Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel said he was relieved to hear that Yücel is doing well according to his own terms. Gabriel also called for the release of the journalist.
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"It is good that our ambassador today had the opportunity to speak with Deniz Yücel directly and to get an idea of the conditions under which he is being held”, Federal Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel declared after the visit by Ambassador Martin Erdmann to Deniz Yücel. "We took note of his wishes for improved conditions of detention."
Once again, Gabriel demanded a speedy and fair trial for the German-Turkish journalist. The German government continues to work towards his release, said Gabriel, who also recently discussed this issue with his Turkish counterpart.
On 27 February the German-Turkish journalist Deniz Yücel was remanded in custody by an Istanbul judge. The Turkish correspondent of the German daily newspaper "Die Welt" had already spent 13 days in police detention, after voluntarily handing himself over to the Turkish authorities in Istanbul. Initially he was denied access to all consular services.
Consular visits had already taken place. The German Consul General Georg Birgelen met with Yücel twice. On 18 May, he had the opportunity to have a long conversation with Yücel and to look at the conditions under which he is being held. The Federal Government had spoken of "first steps".
Birgelen had been able to speak with Yücel for over an hour unsupervised, Schäfer had reported. This is more than usual in such cases. The only possible rule-of-law outcome, however, remains the release of Deniz Yücel, he had stressed, since there are no grounds on which he can be remanded in custody.
At the beginning of April, the German Consul General was able for the first time to visit Deniz Yücel and see for himself how he was.
The German government has also repeatedly pointed to other German citizens kept in prison in Turkey, often on unclear charges.
They include Mesale Tolu, who was detained at the end of April. In these cases too Germany continues to demand full consular access at all levels, in accordance with international law.
They too must be treated fairly and in line with the rule of law, and they must be given access to full consular services. Every case must be swiftly clarified. "People cannot be allowed to simply vanish into prisons", federal government spokesperson Steffen Seibert said.