Turkish-German journalist Deniz Yücel sues Turkey

ISTANBUL

Turkish-German journalist Deniz Yücel, who was jailed for spreading “terrorist propaganda,” has filed a lawsuit against Turkey.

Yücel is demanding a compensation of one million Turkish Liras ($150,000) on the ground that his detention was “unlawful,” the Turkey branch of Paris-based media watchdog Reporters Without Borders’s announced on Twitter on Aug. 29.

The hearing is set for Sept. 25 in Istanbul’s 17th High Criminal Court.

Yücel was jailed in February 2017 in Turkey on suspicion of spreading propaganda in support of a terrorist organization and inciting violence.

But a court decided to release him pending trial on Feb. 16 this year and Yücel returned to Germany. He still faces trial in Turkey, scheduled for Dec. 20. The public prosecutor has demanded a sentence of 18 years imprisonment.

Yücel’s high-profile case caused tensions between the governments of Turkey and Germany.

However, in recent months, both sides have taken steps towards improving ties as President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is planning a visit to Germany on Sept. 28-29.

Earlier this month, a Turkish court lifted a travel ban on German journalist Meşale Tolu, who was arrested last year on terrorism-related charges.

The trial against Tolu is set to continue on Oct. 16.

The 33-year-old German citizen with Turkish roots is accused of engaging in terrorist propaganda and being a member of a banned left-wing group MLKP.

A court on Dec. 18 ordered the release of Tolu, pending verdict. However, an Istanbul court in April ruled to keep the travel ban against her in place.