Turkish authorities have given permission to Germany’s consul general in İstanbul, Georg Birgelen, to visit jailed Turkish-German journalist Deniz Yücel, who works for the Die Welt daily, in prison, the spokesperson for the German ministry of foreign affairs announced on Wednesday.
Martin Schaefer said in Berlin that his country was pleased with the decision and that the visit is expected to take place on Thursday.
Yücel, who was detained in Turkey on Feb. 14 as part of an investigation for publishing stories on the leaked emails of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s son-in-law and Energy Minister Berat Albayrak, was arrested by a court on Feb. 27 and sent to Silivri Prison in İstanbul.
Nationwide protests took place in Germany and other European countries after Yücel’s arrest, with demands made for his immediate release.
Schaefer also said Birgelen would inspect Yücel’s prison conditions and that German authorities believe an appropriate and reasoned decision, which is in line with the principles of a state of law, is the release of Yücel.
Some German officials including Birgelen visited Yücel in prison for the first time in April.
Turkish President Erdoğan accused Yücel of being a “German agent” and a “representative of the terrorist Kurdistan Workers’ Party [PKK]” on many occasions.
The journalist is accused of disseminating the propaganda of a terrorist organization and inciting people to hatred and enmity.