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Turkey frees German reporter accused of spying raising hope of warmer relations between Nato allies

Deniz Yucel hugs his wife, Dilek Mayatuerk, after being released from prison in Istanbul - REUTERS
Deniz Yucel hugs his wife, Dilek Mayatuerk, after being released from prison in Istanbul - REUTERS

A German journalist imprisoned without charge for more than a year in Turkey was released on Friday, opening the way to a thaw in relations between the two countries.

Deniz Yücel, a reporter for Welt newspaper who holds dual Turkish and German nationality, was freed in Istanbul less than 24 hours after Angela Merkel personally pressed the Turkish prime minister, Binali Yildirim, for his release.

But the move did not appear to signal any let-up in the the Turkish crackdown on press freedom. It came as three prominent journalists were jailed for life for alleged links to the failed coup of 2016.

The 44-year-old Mr Yücel was among more than 100 journalists jailed in Turkey after their reporting was seen as critical of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

He was officially held on suspicion of espionage. His detention caused a public outcry in Germany and Mrs Merkel has repeatedly called for his release.

A poster on display in the window of a restaurant in Berlin - Credit: dpa via AP
A poster on display in the window of a restaurant in Berlin Credit: dpa via AP

“Deniz Yücel is a terrorist and a spy. As long as I hold this position, there will be no release,” Mr Erdogan vowed last year. 

But the case for espionage was quietly dropped yesterday as prosecutors finally filed charges of spreading terrorist propaganda and inciting hatred against Mr Yücel.

In theory he could face 18 years imprisonment if found guilty, but he was released pending trial, and was later seen boarding a plane at Istanbul's Ataturk International Airport.

Earlier he was met at the gates of Silivri Prison by his wife Dilek, who tweeted: “At last! At last!!! At last!!!! Deniz is free.”

Yucel boards a plan at Ataturk International Airport on Friday night - Credit: Reuters
Yucel boards a plan at Ataturk International Airport on Friday night Credit: Reuters

His release will be seen as a personal success for Mrs Merkel after she defied calls to refuse to meet with Mr Yildirim during his visit to Germany. After talks in Berlin on Wednesday she said she had impressed on the Turkish prime minister that the case “has special urgency for us”.

Mr Yücel’s case became a lightning rod for the strained relations between the two Nato allies, and Mr Yildirim made it clear yesterday that played a part in the decision to release him.

“It seems that today some of the problems in German-Turkish relations of late have been resolved,” he said.

“Of course I'm happy for him, I'm happy for his wife and family, who had to endure a very, very difficult year of separation,” Mrs Merkel said yesterday.

The fresh faces of German politics who could replace Angela Merkel
The fresh faces of German politics who could replace Angela Merkel

The imprisoned journalist was a cause celebre in Germany and her part in his release may buy Mrs Merkel a little breathing space as she tries to put together a new coalition government and quell a rebellion in her Christian Democrat party (CDU).

Mr Yücel’s employers also singled out the embattled foreign minister, Sigmar Gabriel, for his role in freeing the journalist. Mr Gabriel insisted there had been no deal or trade-off with Turkey.

“The great cross-party and ideological solidarity with Deniz Yücel underlines the importance of press freedom and independent journalism to our society,” Mathias Döpfner, the CEO of the Axel Springer media group, which owns Welt, said. “But his case also shows that we must always be prepared to defend both.”

Turkey military coup, in pictures
Turkey military coup, in pictures

As Mr Yücel was released, a Turkish court sentenced six journalists to life in prison for alleged links to Fethullah Gülen, the exiled cleric Turkey accuses of being behind the 2016 coup attempt.

Among them were three of the best known journalists in the country: Nazlı Ilıcak, a former MP;  Ahmet Altan, editor of the now closed Taraf newspaper; and his brother, Mehmet.