Is Erdogan using imprisoned foreigners as bargaining chips?
A reporter for Germany's Die Welt newspaper was recently released after a year in prison with no trial, but Turkey is likely to continue detaining foreigners for political bargaining.
Did Turkey imprison an innocent man for over a year, or was it coaxed to release a dangerous terrorist or spy under pressure from the German government? This question is being raised since German-Turkish journalist Deniz Yucel was freed Feb. 16. That day, Yucel released a short video clip explaining that as he was leaving the prison, he was handed a piece of paper dated Feb. 13 that informed him the court had decided to continue his prison term.
“I was still let go," he said. "I don't know why I was released today, or [why I was] arrested last year. But I know that neither my arrest — or rather, my being taken hostage — nor my release has anything to do with the rule of law.”
Yucel’s release after a lengthy bargaining process between German and Turkish authorities was no surprise. To the contrary, it confirmed the adage, "Desperate times call for desperate measures." The timeline from his arrest to his release proves how desperate Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his Justice and Development Party (AKP) government have become to continue credible foreign relations.
Prime Minister Binali Yildirim, on his way Feb. 14 to Berlin for an official visit, told the press, “I hope [Yucel] will be released soon. I believe there will be positive developments soon.”
