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German TV reporter detained at Istanbul airport Merkel voices concern at reporter’s detention in Turkey
(about 3 hours later)
BERLIN — A reporter for German public broadcaster SWR was detained Tuesday at Istanbul airport in what Turkish authorities said was a reaction to an unspecified previous incident. BERLIN — Chancellor Angela Merkel said Tuesday that her government is concerned about the detention of a German television reporter at Istanbul airport, adding that diplomats are trying to resolve the situation.
TV correspondent Volker Schwenck was stopped from entering Turkey after arriving from Cairo and held in the deportation room of Istanbul Ataturk Airport, said an SWR spokesman. Volker Schwenck, a correspondent for German public broadcaster SWR, was prevented from entering Turkey after arriving from Cairo and held in the deportation room of Istanbul Ataturk Airport, an SWR spokesman said.
“He hasn’t been released and he hasn’t been given any reasons yet,” Wolfgang Utz told The Associated Press. Asked about the incident during a news conference in Berlin, Merkel said German officials “immediately looked into the matter.”
However, a Turkish official said Schwenck had been banned from entering Turkey due to a previous incident. “The Foreign Ministry in particular is in constant contact with all necessary authorities and is of course trying to restore the journalist’s ability to work. As such we are pursuing this and regard it with some concern.”
It is the latest incident involving journalists to sour German-Turkish relations. Last week, Merkel’s government granted a Turkish request to allow the possible prosecution of a German TV comic for writing an intentionally offensive poem about Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Critics of the decision accused Merkel of giving in to Turkish pressure because of Ankara’s key role in halting the flow of migrants to Europe.
The poem by comedian Jan Boehmermann was a response to Turkish anger over a satirical program on one of SWR’s sister channels that had also poked fun at Erdogan.
Last month, German weekly Der Spiegel pulled its correspondent from Istanbul, saying Turkey had refused to renew his press permit.
A Turkish official said Schwenck was banned from entering Turkey because of a previous incident.
“He knew he would not be allowed in, yet he still came,” said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he is not authorized to discuss the issue publicly. He said he didn’t have details of the previous incident.“He knew he would not be allowed in, yet he still came,” said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he is not authorized to discuss the issue publicly. He said he didn’t have details of the previous incident.
Utz denied the official’s version. A spokesman for SWR denied the official’s version.
“There had never previously been problems. It’s the first time he’s faced such a situation,” he said. “He wasn’t aware of any entry ban.” “There had never previously been problems. It’s the first time he’s faced such a situation,” Wolfgang Utz told The Associated Press. “He wasn’t aware of any entry ban.”
Schwenck, who had planned to travel to the Syrian border to interview refugees, posted a picture on Twitter of a document titled “Inadmissible Passenger Notification Report.”Schwenck, who had planned to travel to the Syrian border to interview refugees, posted a picture on Twitter of a document titled “Inadmissible Passenger Notification Report.”
He tweeted : “Final stop Istanbul. Entry to Turkey denied. There’s a note with my name. I’m a journalist. A problem?”He tweeted : “Final stop Istanbul. Entry to Turkey denied. There’s a note with my name. I’m a journalist. A problem?”
SWR is part of the ARD network, one of two main public broadcasters in Germany. Another of ARD’s members recently aired a song poking fun at Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, prompting the Turkish Foreign Ministry to summon Germany’s ambassador.
The other major German public broadcasting network, ZDF, has become embroiled in a row with Turkey over a satirical program featuring a crude poem about Erdogan.
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Suzan Frazer in Ankara contributed to this report.Suzan Frazer in Ankara contributed to this report.
Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.