Turkish, German FMs speak on phone amid row

ISTANBUL - Anadolu Agency

The Turkish and German foreign ministers spoke on the phone on July 22 amid a row between the NATO partners that has sharply worsened since the arrest of several rights activists in Istanbul, according to diplomatic sources.

The phone call between Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu and Sigmar Gabriel took place amid recent tension between Turkey and Germany.

Relations sharply deteriorated after a court in Istanbul ordered six rights activists to remain in custody for allegedly aiding a “terror” group on July 18, with German citizen Peter Steudtner among them.

On July 5, 10 human rights activists had been detained in a police operation against a digital security and information management workshop in Istanbul’s Büyükada Island.

The court however ordered the release of the four on probation and banned them from travelling abroad.

On July 21, the Istanbul court issued a detention warrant for four activists who had previously been released on probation.