German Foreign Ministry Summons Turkish Envoy Over Detention of German Activist

The German Foreign Ministry summoned on Wednesday the Turkish ambassador to the country over the detention of six human right activists including German citizen Peter Steudtner, Foreign Ministry spokesman Martin Schaefer said at a press briefing.

BERLIN (Sputnik) – On Tuesday, local media reported that the Turkish court ruled that Steudtner among six human rights activists, including Amnesty International's Turkey director Idil Eser, should remain in custody. The activists were detained by the Turkish police over allegedly aiding a terrorist group on July 5.

The Amnesty International strongly condemned the actions of the Turkish authorities, calling them a "travesty of justice," while German government's spokesman Steffen Seibert said on Tuesday that Berlin stands in solidarity with Steudtner.

"Today in the morning the Turkish ambassador was summoned in the Foreign Ministry on the request of [German] Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel. This conversation has just taken place in the Foreign Ministry," Schaefer said.

The Turskish ambassador was told that the detention of Steudtner as well as other activists was unacceptable.

Schaefer pointed out that Gabriel decided to suspend his vacation over the situation around the detained activists in Turkey.

"The Federal Government demands the immediate release of Peter Steudtner and the immediate full consular access," Schaefer said.