Two German citizens released from prison in Turkey

Hopes rise of improvement in ties between Berlin and Ankara

ANKARA: Two German citizens have been released from prison in Turkey, raising hopes of an improvement in relations between the countries.

David Britsch, 55, from Schwerin, near Hamburg, was detained in April near the Turkish border with Syria while making a pilgrimage on foot to Jerusalem. He was freed on Thursday.

Mesale Tolu, 33, a German journalist of Turkish origin, was arrested in a raid at her apartment in Istanbul in the early hours of May 1, and charged with spreading terrorist propaganda. She was released on Monday.

“Months of uncertainty and waiting in detention in Turkey are finally over,” said German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel. “Decisions like this make us hope we can rebuild confidence and the bilateral relationship step by step.”

Seven Germans are still being held in Turkey on terror charges, among them Turkish-German journalist Deniz Yucel.

“Although German officials will continue to pressure for the release of Yucel, the releases — especially before Christmas — are an important signal for the new German government,” Magdalena Kirchner, a fellow at the Istanbul Policy Center, told Arab News.

“These are positive signals that might restore at least some of the trust that was lost in the turbulent recent months.”

Alper Ucok, Berlin representative of the Turkish Industry and Business Association, said the releases could be read as signs of goodwill by Turkey to rebuild trust between the two countries.

“Turkey is seeking to restore good relations with Germany in particular, and with Europe in general,” Ucok told Arab News.

“Ankara seems determined to give fresh impetus to the EU front, including the revitalization of the visa-liberalization process and long-sought customs-union modernization.

“Berlin remains one of the most important actors for Turkish foreign policy, if not the key one.”

Bilateral ties were resilient and would eventually normalize, as long as both sides addressed each other’s concerns constructively and with empathy, Ucok said.

“Already some major steps were taken to restore ties, including high-level bilateral contacts last month,” he said.

“Presumably, in these conversations some mutual steps toward reconciliation were discussed, and now they’re being implemented.”