Authorities at Istanbul airport detained a German journalist heading to interview refugees on the Syria-Turkey border Tuesday, according to the correspondent’s employer, public broadcaster Südwestrundfunk (SWR).
“Last stop, Istanbul,” the reporter, Volker Schwenck, tweeted. “Entry into Turkey not permitted. There is a notification on my behalf. I’m a journalist. Is there a problem?”
Schwenck tweeted a photo of the notification, written in Turkish and English, with the words “Entry Ban” visible in English.
Endstation Istanbul. Einreise in Türkei verweigert. Es sei ein Vermerk an meinem Namen. Bin Journalist. Ein Problem? pic.twitter.com/wA7er0fJHn
— Volker Schwenck (@VSchwenck) April 19, 2016
The German foreign office tweeted that it was in contact with Turkish authorities.
The German Journalists Association (DJV) urged Turkish authorities to release Schwenck immediately. Frank Überall, the DJV chairman, said Schwenck’s treatment was “pure harassment that nothing can justify.”
SWR editors said that Turkey’s interference with its correspondent “shows how freedom of press and opinion is treated in the country.”