Cologne resident Kurdish artist Ozan Canê had visited Turkey to support the HDP in the June 24 elections. Canê was detained on June 23 during a HDP rally in the Edirne province. Ozan Canê is accused of acting in a film depicting the YPG/YPJ’s struggle against ISIS.

Die Linke MP Gokay Akbulut appealed in writing to the German Foreign Ministry for the release of Ozan Canê, on trial with a possible sentence of 13 years. MP Akbulut demanded that the ministry take action for Ozan Canê’s safe return to Germany and for the artist to exercise the consulate rights determined by international agreements.

Kurdish artist Ozan Canê, among the German citizens held captive by the Erdogan regime, had sent a letter to Chancellor Merkel last month about the bad conditions in the prison. Foreign Minister Heiko Maas had promised to take action to have the German citizens in Turkish prisons released but these words had been forgotten after Erdogan’s visit to Germany.

According to the German Foreign Ministry, there are 5 German citizens in prison in Turkey on political charges. This number is known to be much higher, because Turkish authorities often give German officials very late notice about detained or arrested citizens of Germany.

GERMANY ISSUES SOCIAL MEDIA WARNING

The German Foreign Ministry renewed their warnings against citizens wishing to visit Turkey. The new warning stresses that persons posting messages against Turkish President Erdogan on their social media accounts could be accused of “insulting the president”.