Germany granted access to arrested journalist Deniz Yücel in Turkey

BERLIN - The Associated Press

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Germany’s Foreign Ministry has said it has been granted consular access to arrested German-Turkish journalist Deniz Yücel.

Ministry spokesman Martin Schaefer said on May 17 that consular officials will visit Die Welt reporter Yücel in Istanbul’s Silivri prison on May 18 for a second time since his arrest earlier this year.

Schaefer added that the government was “very happy about this,” as it will give officials the opportunity to assess his wellbeing, the conditions in which he is being held, and to determine how to proceed next in the case. 

Yücel, who holds both German and Turkish citizenship, was arrested on Feb. 27 on charges of propaganda in support of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) and “inciting public violence.” 

He faces up to 10.5 years in jail if convicted but he denies the charges.

Shortly after consular officials visited Yücel in prison on April 4, German Deputy Foreign Minister Michael Roth said he was “doing well” but Germany was also pushing for his release.

“Mr. Yücel is, given the circumstances, doing well. What remains a burden for him is the solitary confinement,” Roth said.

“This cannot be the end for us. We are still pushing for the release of Deniz Yücel,” he added.