IFJ welcomes release of journalist detained by Turkish forces in Syria
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) expressed relief on Tuesday following the release of a journalist who had been detained by Turkish-backed Military Police, in Syria’s Aleppo countryside.
The IFJ, a global union for journalists based in Brussels, welcomed the release of Bake al-Qassem, who had been detained by Turkish Military Police in the northern Syrian city of al-Bab.
On Sep. 02, the Military Police freed journalist Bakr al-Qassem, who had been detained on Aug. 26 along with his wife, Nabeha Taha, in the city of al-Bab, situated in Aleppo’s northeastern countryside.
In a statement, the IFJ called on the Turkish authorities and their affiliated SNA factions to stop intimidating and harassing journalists, describing it as “a flagrant violation of press freedom and human rights.”
The Turkish-backed Military Police arrested al-Qassem, who works with Anadolu Agency and AFP, and his wife, Nabeha Taha, while returning home and then handed him over to the Turkish intelligence who transferred him to Turkish territory. His wife was released an hour after the arrest.