Partners appeal over Turkish jail

The partners of two human rights activists jailed in Turkey have appealed for their release.

Peter Steudtner, of Germany, and Ali Gharavi, of Sweden, were arrested on 5 July during a raid on a Turkish hotel where they were teaching a digital security workshop. They were among six activists, including Amnesty International’s Turkey director Idil Eser, who were then jailed last week for allegedly aiding an unspecified armed terror group.

The German and Swedish governments have rejected the terrorism accusations against the men and protested to Turkey against their imprisonment.

“We want them out,” Laressa Dickey, the wife of Mr Gharavi, said.

She was accompanied by Mr Steudtner’s partner, Magdalena Freudenschuss, who said she did not understand why the men were charged with terrorism.