Turkey ends solitary confinement of German journalist

BERLIN – The Associated Press

German-Turkish journalist Deniz Yücel, who has been detained at a prison in Istanbul for nine months, is no longer in solitary confinement.

The German government has welcomed the Turkish decision to end the solitary confinement of Die Welt journalist Yücel, detained for months and accused of espionage.

However, Berlin also underlined its demand that Yücel and others, held on what Germany considers political grounds, be released.

Government spokesman Steffen Seibert said on Dec. 4 the improvement in Yücel’s detention conditions is “a small step.”

“But it doesn’t change the German government’s demand that German citizens jailed on incomprehensible grounds in Turkey be released,” Seibert added.

Yücel was arrested on Feb. 14, accused of “disseminating terrorist propaganda” and “inciting hatred,” as well as espionage. He denies the allegations.

The Die Welt reporter is one of nine Germans who the German Foreign Ministry says are being held in Turkey over “political accusations.”