PRESS RELEASE

Brussels, 21 April 2017

On 9 April, documentary film-maker and writer Gabriele Del Grande was detained by Turkish authorities in the Hatay province, close to the Syrian border. Commenting on the issue, European Green Party co-chair Monica Frassoni said:

"The detainment of Gabriele Del Grande, a reporter who has illustrated the stories of refugees and of their difficult lives, comes as yet another illegal act of a government which has decided to turn its back on freedom of expression and which has taken an increasingly repressive approach against its own citizens and foreigners alike.

"We call on the High Representative for Foreign Affairs Federica Mogherini to take immediate action in order to secure the release of Gabriele Del Grande, and by asking Gabriele’s release we also demand the release of all journalists and political activists currently detained in Turkey, including German-Turkish reporter Deniz Yücel."

Gabriele Del Grande has been detained without any formal charge by the Turkish authorities and was granted diplomatic and legal assistance only today for the first time. Del Grande was able to call his family only after 9 days of detention, on 18 April, and announced a hunger strike for his rights to be respected.

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Eliana Capretti
Head of Communications and Press