Turkey urged to free detained Syrian journalist

A media freedom group says Turkish authorities have detained an independent Syrian journalist and called for his immediate release.

The New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) said on Friday that Rami Jarrah was detained in the southern city of Gaziantep on Wednesday while trying to apply for a residence permit.

It said Jarrah was questioned about his reporting but the reasons for his detention were unclear.

Turkish authorities had no comment on the reported detention.

“The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on Turkish authorities to immediately release Rami Jarrah, a Syrian journalist based in Turkey, who has been held since Wednesday,” the CPJ said in a statement.

It said Jarrah was initially held in a detention facility for foreign citizens, but was moved to a different facility on Thursday, and that it was unclear where he was currently being held.

Nina Ognianova, CPJ’s Europe and Central Asia programme co-ordinator, said: “Jarrah is known for his independent reporting on the war in Syria, which he has been covering for years at great risk.

“Syrian journalists like Jarrah, who have turned to Turkey for safe refuge, should be protected rather than subjected to detention and harassment.

“We call on Turkish authorities to immediately release Rami Jarrah and allow him to work in Turkey without fear of obstruction.”