Detained Syrian journalist freed without charges in Turkey

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published: 20 February 2016

Rami Jarrah, a detained Syrian journalist, has been released in Turkey without any charges. He was arrested while applying for a residence permit, possibly related to his Syria crossing.

Summary

ANKARA, Turkey  - A Syrian journalist arrested in Turkey while applying for a residence permit says he has been freed.

In a message posted Saturday on Facebook, Rami Jarrah said Turkish authorities have released him without charges. He said he had not been given an explanation for his arrest on Wednesday, but said it might be related to his crossing into Syria.

Jarrah co-founded the independent citizen journalist group ANA Press after leaving Syria. The agency provides footage and reports on the war in Syria to international media.

The journalist said he was held at a detention center together with people suspected of "being terrorist elements."

The Committee to Protect Journalists had urged Turkey to release him, saying journalists like Jarrah needed protection rather than being "subjected to detention and harassment." - AP

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KEY POINTS:

• Rami Jarrah was arrested in Turkey while seeking a residence permit.
• He was held in a detention center with suspected terrorists.
• No charges were filed against him after his release.
• Jarrah co-founded ANA Press to cover the Syrian war.
• The Committee to Protect Journalists called for his release.