After imprisonment in Turkey - Patrick K. back in Germany
After over six years in prison in Turkey, Patrick K. from Gießen is back in Germany. With flowers and posters, including the inscription "Welcome home dear Patrick," the 35-year-old was welcomed by his family at Frankfurt Airport on a Wednesday evening. The then 29-year-old was reportedly arrested by Turkish authorities in March 2018 in a military restricted zone near the Syrian border.
His mother and he embraced through tears. "I'm overwhelmed," she told the German Press Agency. "You look good," was the first thing his mother heard from him when they saw each other.
According to his lawyer, Patrick K. had left the prison in Ankara on a Sunday and was in deportation detention. The Turkish prosecutor had accused him of wanting to join the Kurdish militia YPG in Syria. This organization is considered a terrorist organization in Turkey, like the banned Kurdish Workers' Party PKK. In October 2018, K. was sentenced to more than six years in prison for membership in a terrorist organization.
His mother confirmed on Tuesday that K. had only gone to Turkey to hike at the time. "My son is absolutely apolitical." After his room in a shelter was searched, he sought help, was picked up as a hitchhiker, and was eventually let out of a car in the Syrian border area with the statement "you will find help here." But that was far from the help he needed, his mother said. "That's where the horror began."
During his imprisonment, she received emotional and also financial support mainly from the Kurdish Community Germany and voices of solidarity from Cologne, she said. Members of these organizations were also present at the Wednesday evening arrival at the airport.
- The news of Patrick K.'s release was widely covered by various media outlets, including the German Press Agency.
- Upon hearing about his mother's struggle, activists from Turkey and Germany, particularly from Frankfurt am Main in Hesse, Germany, showed their solidarity with the family.
- Upon returning to Germany, Patrick K. expressed his gratitude to the German government for their efforts in securing his release, pointing out the support he received while in prison from the Red Cross in Frankfurt Airport.
- The German government, in response to the conflicts between Turkey and Syria, has been advocating for a peaceful resolution, emphasizing the importance of respecting human rights and freedom of movement.
- During his time in detention, Patrick K.'s mother frequently visited him at the Frankfurt Criminal Court in Germany, where his trial was held due to Germany's military cooperation with Turkey.
