Merkel's spokesman slammed as "unjustified" the detention by Turkey of a German national among six human rights activists ordered to remain in custody for allegedly aiding a terror group. "We stand in solidarity with Peter Steudtner whose detention in Turkey is unjustified and will advocate for him on all levels," spokesman Steffen Seibert tweeted. Eight of those detained were Turkish rights activists, including Ilknur Ustun of the Women's Coalition and Veli Acu of the Human Rights Agenda Association. "It is politically motivated targeting not just of these six human rights defenders who have been remanded in pre-trial prison custody but it is taking aim at Turkey's entire human rights movement," he told AFP. "When Erdogan throws more journalists and human rights defenders in prison, it is no longer possible to be silent," he said.

Source: The Local July 18, 2017 14:12 UTC