OSCE Media Freedom Representative Urges Turkey To Release Arrested Austrian Journalist

OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Harlem Desir called on Turkey on Wednesday to immediately release the Austrian journalist detained in Ankara.

VIENNA (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 12th September, 2018) OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Harlem Desir called on Turkey on Wednesday to immediately release the Austrian journalist detained in Ankara.

On Tuesday, media reported that Austrian journalist Max Zirngast was arrested in Turkey on charges either related to terrorism or linked to his political publications.

"I strongly condemn this arrest and call on the Turkish authorities to immediately take action and release him. This is an additional example of the severe conditions and constraints faced by journalists in Turkey for simply carrying out their professional activities and reporting on the situation in the country," Desir was quoted as saying in an OSCE press release.

Desir stressed that anti-terrorism legislation, which was allegedly used to suppress media freedom, needed to be changed according to international standards.

In turn, Vienna expected that the Turkish authorities would explain the reasons for the arrest of the Austrian citizen in Ankara and would release him, according to Austrian Foreign Minister Karin Kneissl.