US reporter detained by Turkey for days
A Wall Street Journal reporter was released by Turkish authorities on Friday after being detained for more than two days days, the newspaper reported Saturday.
The journalist, Dion Nissenbaum, was detained by local authorities without access to his lawyer or family since Tuesday, according to the report. Nissenbaum was also not allowed to contact his employer.
Turkish authorities accused the reporter of illegally publishing material from an Islamic State video, an activity that is prohibited in Turkey, a source familiar with the matter told the Journal.
{mosads}“While we are relieved that Dion was released unharmed after nearly three days, we remain outraged at his peremptory detention, without any contact with his family, legal counsel or colleagues,” Journal Editor in Chief Gerard Baker said.
Nissenbaum, who is a U.S. citizen, said Turkish authorities informed him that he was under investigation, but refused to specify details. He also said that his repeated calls for legal representation went unanswered.
Police tried to get Nissenbaum to get him to sign a document, part of which included his Twitter handle, during his detention. But the reporter refused, asking for an English translation.
Nissenbaum was released from the detention facility for foreigners near Istanbul on Friday, and is returning to the U.S., accompanied by his family, on Saturday.
Nissenbaum’s arrest comes in the wake of a widespread crackdown on the media in Turkey, with dozens of Turkish journalists in prison. In recent months, the Turkish government has shut down numerous domestic media outlets.
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