The arrest is a serious and sad situation in the German-Turkish relationship, government spokesperson Steffen Seibert declared on Wednesday. It is a transparent attempt to "discredit and criminalise dissenters", Seibert said.
Turkey’s ambassador was summoned to the Federal Foreign Office following the arrest of German national Peter Steudtner and five other human rights activists. It was important to unequivocally and directly convey to the Turkish government Germany’s indignation and incomprehension as well as its crystal-clear expectations in the Peter Steudtner case, "without diplomatic niceties", Federal Foreign office spokesperson Martin Schäfer declared.

Arrest is "indefensible"

The Turkish ambassador was told unequivocally that the arrest of Steudtner and other human rights activists was neither understandable nor acceptable, "and certainly indefensible". The Federal Government demanded the immediate release of Peter Steudtner. The Turkish Ambassador agreed to immediately transmit Germany’s position to the Turkish government, Schäfer said.

The accusations of links to terrorist organisations are "clearly far-fetched". It is just as difficult to understand how journalists such as Deniz Yücel and Mesale Tolu can be accused of supporting terrorism, Schäfer added. This was clearly done at the request of the Turkish government, the spokesperson of the Federal Foreign Office said.

On Thursday in Berlin, Federal Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel will discuss the further course of action in relation to Turkey, Schäfer announced.

Solidarity with all those detained

On Tuesday, Federal Chancellor Angela Merkel had already expressed her "greatest concern" with regard to the events, calling the arrest of Peter Steudtner absolutely unjustified: "The Federal Government condemns it. We declare our solidarity with him and all the others arrested. The German government will do all it can, on all levels, to secure his release," she said.

"This is another case where, in our view, innocent people are caught up in the wheels of the justice system and end up in detention", Merkel said. The Federal Government roundly condemns the arrest of Mr. Steudtner and demands his immediate release.

Spokesperson for human rights

The Federal Foreign Office called Peter Steudtner a spokesperson for human rights and democracy. Linking him to supporters of terrorists is absurd, its statement said. "Amnesty International and other non-governmental organisations make an extremely important contribution to plurality, democracy and the protection of human rights in Turkey," the ministry in Berlin added.

The Federal Government is in regular and close contact with numerous non-governmental organisations in Turkey. It has been reported that non-governmental organisations have been submitted to increased controls in recent months.

According to Amnesty International, a Turkish court has ordered six human rights defenders, including German national Peter Steudtner, be remanded in pre-trial custody. Steudtner is receiving consular assistance from the consulate general in Istanbul. The activists had taken part in a workshop in which Steudtner and a Swedish colleague were trainers.