Germany rejects Turkish government's accusations of disrespect for press freedom

The Turkish ambassador in Berlin was told on Tuesday that the German government "firmly rejects" the Turkish government's accusations that freedom of expression and freedom of the press are not respected in Germany, according to the country's Federal Foreign Office.

Turkey summoned the German ambassador in Ankara on Wednesday to express condemnation over the detention in Germany of two journalists from a pro-government Turkish newspaper.

The German police on 17 May searched the residences of two journalists in the western town of Moerfelden-Walldorf on suspicion of dangerous dissemination of personal data.

Investigators confiscated electronic storage media and other devices, the public prosecutor's office in Darmstadt said, adding that police had detained the two men but later released them.

Turkish Foreign Ministry reacted, condemning the detention of Turkish journalists and claiming they were detained upon news reports on the activities of Gulenist movement in Germany.

The ministry said that "this attack on the free press revealed the double standard of Germany who dares preach freedom of press and expression."