Turkey’s President Abdullah Gul received on Sunday German journalists, who were detained in Iran on charges of espionage but who were released after his initiatives.
Gul’s first meeting in the German capital of Berlin, where he is paying a formal visit, was with Bild newspaper’s reporter Marcus Hellwig and photo journalist Jens Koch.
Hellwig and Koch thanked President Gul in Turkish, while Gul said German President Christian Wulff briefed him on the detention of the two journalists before his visit to Iran last February, and President Wulff also exerted efforts for the journalists.
During the meeting, Hellwig and Koch said they learned from radio when they were in a prison in Tabriz that Gul would visit Iran, and hoped that President Gul would save them.
German journalists Marcus Hellwig and Jens Koch were arrested in Iran when they wanted to interview with the family of Sakina Ashtiani, who was sentenced to death penalty on charges of adultery.
German President Christian Wulff briefed President Abdullah Gul on the issue before Gul’s visit to Iran last February, and asked for Gul’s support.
Two journalists were released some time after President Gul brought up the issue to Iranian President Mahmud Ahmadi-Nejad.
Turkey’s President Abdullah Gul received on Sunday German journalists, who were detained in Iran on charges of espionage but who were released after his initiatives.
Gul’s first meeting in the German capital of Berlin, where he is paying a formal visit, was with Bild newspaper’s reporter Marcus Hellwig and photo journalist Jens Koch.
Hellwig and Koch thanked President Gul in Turkish, while Gul said German President Christian Wulff briefed him on the detention of the two journalists before his visit to Iran last February, and President Wulff also exerted efforts for the journalists.
During the meeting, Hellwig and Koch said they learned from radio when they were in a prison in Tabriz that Gul would visit Iran, and hoped that President Gul would save them.
German journalists Marcus Hellwig and Jens Koch were arrested in Iran when they wanted to interview with the family of Sakina Ashtiani, who was sentenced to death penalty on charges of adultery.
German President Christian Wulff briefed President Abdullah Gul on the issue before Gul’s visit to Iran last February, and asked for Gul’s support.
Two journalists were released some time after President Gul brought up the issue to Iranian President Mahmud Ahmadi-Nejad.
Source: Worldbulletin.net