Dutch journalist detained over tweets leaves Turkey
| Publisher | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |
| Publication Date | 11 May 2016 |
| Cite as | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Dutch journalist detained over tweets leaves Turkey, 11 May 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/576900e5e.html [accessed 21 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
May 11, 2016
A Dutch journalist who was briefly detained in Turkey and then banned from leaving the country during an investigation into tweets deemed insulting to the president has been allowed to return to the Netherlands.
Dutch Foreign Minister Bert Koenders said in a statement late on May 10 that the newspaper columnist, Ebru Umar, had left Turkey.
Koenders said the return of the dual Dutch-Turkish national was "great news."
Umar said she was hauled out of bed and arrested at her holiday home in Kusadasi, a resort town in western Turkey, last month.
She was questioned for 16 hours then released but not allowed to leave country. She had to report to police twice a week.
Human rights and media groups have repeatedly criticized press freedom in Turkey, where nearly 2,000 legal cases have been opened against individuals accused of insulting President Recep Tayyip Erdogan since he came to office in 2014.
Based on reporting by AP and AFP
Link to original story on RFE/RL website
