Peter Steudtner

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Peter Steudtner (* 1971 in Berlin ) is a German political scientist, human rights activist and documentary filmmaker . On July 5, 2017, he was arrested by a special unit of the Turkish police together with his Swedish colleague and eight representatives from various Turkish human rights organizations . After two weeks in police custody, four of the ten detainees were released; against Steudtner and the remaining five were remand imposed. The Turkish judiciary accuses him of supporting an armed terrorist organization .

On July 21, 2017, arrest warrants were issued again against the four previously released; two remained at large and two were taken into custody.

The Turkish judiciary rejected an appeal against the pre-trial detention and an application for release in early August 2017.

The charges, brought on October 8, 2017, are based on an anonymous witness; Steudtner had prepared an overthrow. He faces five to ten years in prison.

The trial of Steudtner and ten other defendants began on October 25, 2017; Steudtner protested his innocence. The Turkish public prosecutor's office surprisingly applied for the 10 defendants to be lifted from custody. This did the Court, two of the Turkish human rights activists were subject to conditions, all others, including the two foreign nationals Steudtner and Ali Gharavi without restrictions free.

Life

Steudtner successfully completed his political science studies at the Free University of Berlin with a focus on "non-violent conflict management" with Theodor Ebert . Since then he has been working for various institutions in connection with international human rights and cooperation work. He supervised projects of the INKOTA network, is a trainer for non-violent conflict management and human rights issues and an active member of the East Berlin Gethsemanegemeinde . Since 2003 he has been a trainer for non-violent conflict management at violent free acting. There he leads u. a. Courses for peace workers . He also worked as a documentary filmmaker and contributed to a “ Holistic Safety” manual for the safety of NGO workers. He accompanied human rights activists in Mozambique, Kenya and Angola .

Steudtner has already worked in Palestine , Nepal , Mozambique and other crisis areas.

He is a father of two.

Arrest in Turkey

Steudtner was asked to attend a joint workshop between various Turkish human rights organizations, including the Turkish section of Amnesty International. Together with his friend Ali Garavi and colleagues from Sweden , he agreed and traveled to Turkey in the summer of 2017 to give a lecture on IT security and dealing with stress and trauma.

The workshop had already been running for two days when Turkish police officers stormed the conference venue in the Ascot Hotel on Istanbul's prince island of Büyükada on July 5, 2017 at around 10 a.m. They confiscated the telephones and computers of the participants and arrested Steudtner, Garavi and the eight workshop participants. Among the eight Turkish workshop participants arrested were some of Turkey's best-known human rights activists: İdil Eser , director of Amnesty International in Turkey, Özlem Dalkiran , co-founder of Helsinki Citizens Assembly, and women's rights activist İlknür Üstün .

Ali Garavi and Peter Steudtner were initially detained in the Büyükada police station ; the eight workshop participants were transferred to another prison in Istanbul. Around ten days later, a judge sentenced six of the ten suspects to pre-trial detention: Steudtner, Garavi, Eser and three other participants in the workshop. Pretrial detention in Turkey can last up to five years.

Peter Steudtner and his Swedish colleague Ali Garavi were transferred to the Silivri prison on August 1, 2017 . They were held there in solitary confinement for three days . Appeals against their pre-trial detention were rejected a few days later by the Turkish judiciary. In mid-August 2017, solitary confinement was lifted for both of them.

Reasons for arrest

Reasons given in Turkish media

The arrested were accused of supporting an armed terrorist organization. The Turkish daily Akşam reported, citing security circles, that "the planning of unrest is being investigated". The participants should "have played through scenarios of how an action can be started from Istanbul and transferred to the entire country". Another article by turkishpress.de cites the reason for the access that it was a “conspiratorial meeting” to “draft a chaos plan for Turkey”.

The Islamic-conservative newspaper Yeni Akit wrote that "the detainees had contact with groups of people who are supposed to be connected to the Fethullah terrorist organization ( FETÖ )". In addition, according to turkishpress.de, “these circles are said to have used the 'ByLock' mobile phone app; an indication for the Turkish judiciary that these persons could have exchanged encrypted messages with the FETÖ ”. According to turkishpress.de, databases are also said to have emerged that “are classified as 'secret' or 'confidential' and come from the files of the Turkish intelligence service or the ministries”.

Reasons given in German media

In German media reports, apart from the reasons for imprisonment, there are also dissociative evaluations. The online edition of the Süddeutsche Zeitung reported that Peter Steudtner and five other participants were "under suspicion of terrorism" and questioned such a reason for imprisonment: "Suspicion of terrorism because human rights activists talk about how they can communicate in secret?"

According to the Süddeutsche, the "government paper " Sabah claimed "alleged evidence of the terrorist suspicion". For example, “Amnesty Director İdil Eser (...) was in regular contact with Taner Kılıç , which is hardly surprising”, “because Kılıç is Amnesty's country chairman”. According to the judiciary, this belongs to the movement of Fetullah Gülen. The Süddeutsche quoted Meriç Eyüboğlu, one of the human rights activists' lawyers: "From the beginning we experience a process of absurdities."

Indictment and release

In early October 2017, the Turkish public prosecutor brought charges against Steudtner and the other nine human rights activists. According to media reports, she is demanding 15 years in prison. He is accused of membership in a terrorist organization. The German Federal Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel ( SPD ) criticized the detention claim as "completely incomprehensible and unacceptable". The terror allegations against Steudtner are "absolutely incomprehensible".

The trial began on October 25, 2017. The public prosecutor's office applied for Steudtner's release from pretrial detention with conditions. On the night of October 26, a court ordered the immediate release of Steudtner on bail, but without further conditions. With the exception of Taner Kılıç , the other defendants were also released from pretrial detention, some of them subject to conditions. A confidential conversation between Gerhard Schröder and Erdogan was largely responsible for this. The proceedings will continue on November 22nd.

At the beginning of December 2017 it became known that the head of the Chancellery, Peter Altmaier , had also traveled to Turkey in October 2017 for secret negotiations about the release of Steudtner and other German citizens. According to reports by Spiegel, Altmaier's promises to Turkey had brought Steudtner's breakthrough, but in response to a request with reference to the "state welfare", the German government hid what Altmaier had promised the Turkish government for the release of Steudtner.

Background and reactions

Steudtner is the tenth German citizen who was arrested after the attempted coup in Turkey (July 2016) . Deniz Yücel , Meşale Tolu and other German citizens are or have been in custody in Turkey on similar allegations.

Steudtner's partner sharply rejected the terrorist allegations: “These allegations are totally absurd. [...] They are almost the opposite of what Peter and Ali and the other human rights defenders stand for with their work: for nonviolence, for the commitment to human rights. "

Amnesty International called on the international community to act. All heads of state and government are called upon to exert pressure so that Idil Eser and the other human rights activists are released immediately and unconditionally, said the Secretary General of Amnesty International in Germany, Markus Beeko .

The US State Department condemned the arrests on July 6, 2017 and requested their immediate release. It also called for the state of emergency, which facilitates persecution of people, to be lifted.

At the G20 summit in Hamburg on July 7th and 8th 2017 , the participating heads of government and high-ranking employees had the opportunity to discuss the situation in Turkey.

The German government made public statements after Steudtner was taken into custody and was no longer in police custody. Government spokesman Steffen Seibert said on July 18, 2017 that Steudtner was sitting unjustifiably in Turkish custody. The federal government will “work for him at all levels”.

SPD chancellor candidate Martin Schulz urged Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU) to speak clearly to Turkish President Erdoğan . The limit of what one can tolerate has been exceeded and one can no longer remain silent about the events. "Mr. Erdoğan is in the process of dismantling the rule of law."

Shortly thereafter, Merkel condemned Steudtner's imprisonment and demanded his release. Among other things, she said: “We firmly believe that this arrest is absolutely unjustified. [...] We will do everything on the part of the federal government, at all levels, to obtain his release. "This is another case in which innocent people get caught in the mill of the judiciary and" a cause for the greatest concern ".

Cem Özdemir ( Alliance 90 / The Greens ) said that in Turkey there is “no legal security for anyone”. Turkey was dependent on good economic relations with the EU ; the arrests also damaged the Turkish economy .

The peace commissioner of the Council of the Evangelical Church in Germany, Renke Brahms , also called for the immediate release of Steudtner and the other participants in the workshop: “As a peace worker in many regions of the world, Steudtner has repeatedly campaigned for civil society and civil conflict resolution for Bread for the World or other peace organizations. "

On July 19, 2017, the Turkish Ambassador to Germany was summoned to the Foreign Office . Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel interrupted his vacation because of the arrests and to speak to the ambassador. The spokesman for the Foreign Ministry said it was absurd to link a man who had previously had little to do with Turkey, both professionally and privately, with allegations of terrorism.

On July 19, Volker Rühe (CDU) called on Chancellor Merkel to consider an end to the EU accession talks and economic sanctions. He said: “We now have to put up a clear stop sign, and that is where the Chancellor is called upon. ... A country where you can be jailed for five years in custody without charge, that's not a partner. And therefore my appeal to those involved in the federal government to come to joint action against Turkey. ”Rühe's approach is also remarkable because for years Rühe belonged to the minority in the CDU, which could imagine Turkey becoming a full member of the EU.

On July 20, 2017, Gabriel gave a detailed statement on German-Turkish relations in coordination with Merkel . He said in it:

“Steudtner is not an expert on Turkey, he probably only traveled to Turkey for the first time, has neither written about Turkey nor close contacts in Turkish politics, opposition or civil society, let alone would he ever be a critic of the conditions in Turkey noticed.

And yet on July 5th, special units of the Turkish police and special prosecutors burst into the seminar and arrested all ten participants on charges of supporting terrorism. After two infinitely long weeks in police custody, Peter Steudtner and five other participants in the seminar have now been imposed on remand for the same allegations.

The allegations are obviously unsubstantiated and pulled by the hair. [...]

We consider the deprivation of liberty to be disproportionate and unlawful. In any case, we must fight for the right to consular access under international law.

The cases of Peter Steudtner, Deniz Yücel and Mesale Tolu are exemplary of the absurd accusations of 'terror propaganda', which obviously serve to silence every critical voice that can be caught, including from Germany.

And they stand for an injustice that can affect anyone.

The Peter Steudtner case shows that German citizens in Turkey are no longer safe from arbitrary arrests. We can therefore do nothing but adapt our travel and safety information for Turkey and let the Germans know what can happen to them when they travel to Turkey. [...]

We demand the release of Peter Steudtner, Deniz Yücel and Mesale Tolu, unhindered consular access and swift, fair trials for them and the other Germans who are charged with political crimes.

We expect a return to European values, to respect for freedom of expression, freedom of the press and freedom of the arts. "

In a first reaction, the chairman of the Turkish community in Germany , Gökay Sofuoglu , welcomed the realignment of Turkey's policy announced by Gabriel. Nonetheless, he warned against becoming too confrontational: this would strengthen Erdoğan.

Furthermore, on July 20, the Swedish Foreign Minister Margot Wallström declared that she was working on the case “in close cooperation with Germany”. She demanded that Turkey "clarify the reasons immediately" for the arrest of the Swedish citizen Ali Garawi'yi, who was arrested with Steudtner. The Swedish government is "very concerned" about the latest developments in Turkey, especially with regard to "democracy, respect for human rights and legal regulations".

On the same day, Austria's Federal Chancellor Kern criticized the arrests in Turkey as “completely unacceptable”. Foreign Minister Kurz condemned the recent imposition of pre-trial detention. His ministry adapted its travel advice for Turkey to the German tightening.

Also on July 20, the Turkish Foreign Ministry denied that Germany had been denied Steudtner's consular service. The German government was accused of "direct interference" in matters of the Turkish judiciary; according to the Turkish constitution this is not allowed. The statements of the German government once again show a double standard : Terrorists who threaten Turkey would be protected from being brought to justice.

A prayer service was held for him on July 20, 2017 in the Gethsemane Church in Berlin , of which Steudtner belongs . Provost Christian Stäblein also took part. In the art factory chimney , a solidarity concert was held.

On July 21, it was reported that the Turkish Prime Minister Yıldırım had spoken out in favor of de-escalation . Neither side would do anything if relationships were damaged. In addition, the Turkish Foreign Ministry published a more detailed announcement in which it was initially emphasized that "Germany is a friendly state and an ally with which one is historically connected". While on the one hand Turkish ministers and parliamentarians are denied meetings with Turkish citizens in Germany, on the other hand German authorities insist that their parliamentarians, "who are closely connected to terrorist organizations", have the right to visit Turkish military bases at any time. Foreign Minister Gabriel also uses "threatening language". With regard to the tightening of the travel advice from the Foreign Office, it is clear that “German guests who visited Turkey as tourists would not be equated (on the part of Turkey) with those against whom (legal) allegations were made”. The announcement ends with the words: "We want to continue to regard Germany as an allied and friendly state."

On the evening of July 21, arrest warrants were again issued against four of the people who were arrested and then released. It states that it specifically to Nalan Erkem , Seyhmus Özbekli , Nejat Tastan and Ilknur Ustun .

On July 22nd, Foreign Minister Gabriel sent a letter to people of Turkish origin in Germany, which was published in the Bild newspaper , among others . In it he asked for understanding for the measures taken by the federal government. At the same time he emphasized: "You, the people of Turkish origin in Germany, belong to us - with or without a German passport."

On July 25, 2017, the EU foreign affairs representative Federica Mogherini and the EU enlargement commissioner Johannes Hahn met with the Turkish Foreign Minister Çavuşoğlu . Before the meeting, Erdoğan had accused Germany of espionage and refused to give in to the dispute over the detainees.

In the federal press conference on July 26, 2017, the spokesman for the Federal Foreign Office , Martin Schäfer , emphasized that Steudtner “couldn't speak a word of the Turkish language” and that “it was obviously dealing with a mediocre translator”. At the same time, what Steudtner had to say “in a highly embarrassing interrogation by the responsible interrogation officers or public prosecutors would be dragged into the public eye in Turkey”. One reads "in the Turkish media excerpts, facsimiles, photocopies from the interrogation with Mr. Steudtner", which is "really difficult to bear".

At the beginning of October 2017, diplomatic relations between the US and Turkey also deteriorated further. A Turkish court sentenced a Wall Street Journal reporter to 25 months in absentia.

In November, the federal government rejected a request from the party 'Die Linke' "for reasons of state well-being".

On December 5, 2017, Steudtner was awarded the first Peace Prize from the Quaker Aid Foundation. The laudation was given by Wolfgang Thierse.

On November 21, 2018, Peter Steudtner was a guest speaker in the commentary service on the Day of Repentance and Prayer in the Huguenot Church in Erlangen . He was awarded the human rights prize of the Evangelical Reformed Church Community Erlangen, which was awarded for the second time. The laudation was given by Heiner Bielefeldt , professor for human rights and human rights policy at the Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg.

Fonts (selection)

  • The Social Inclusion of Child Soldiers: Concepts and Experiences from Mozambique. Berghof Research Center for Constructive Conflict Management, Berlin 2001, ISBN 978-3-927783-43-0 ( Online [PDF; 453 kB ]).

Web links

Footnotes

  1. ↑ a b c Ali Celikkan: New Repression Erdoğan: hostage-taking in Istanbul. In: taz.de . July 18, 2017. Retrieved July 19, 2017 .
  2. ^ A b c Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel on the situation in Turkey. Foreign Office . July 20, 2017, accessed July 21, 2017 (press release).
  3. ↑ a b Angela Merkel: “Honorable people in the mills of justice”. In: zeit.de . July 18, 2017. Retrieved July 21, 2017 .
  4. ↑ a b After human rights activists have been released: Turkish court issues new arrest warrants. In: Spiegel Online . July 21, 2017. Retrieved July 21, 2017 .
  5. ↑ a b Turkey: Further arrest warrants against human rights activists. In: Deutschlandfunk . July 22, 2017. Retrieved July 22, 2017 .
  6. ↑ a b Turkey moves Peter Steudtner to Yücel's prison. In: spiegel.de
  7. ↑ a b Steudtner moved to the maximum security prison. In: FAZ.net , August 1, 2017
  8. ↑ a b Court rejects Peter Steudtner's release. In: Zeit Online . August 4, 2017. Retrieved August 7, 2017 .
  9. ↑ Detainee by Erdogan's grace. In: spiegel.de . October 9, 2017.
  10. ↑ Trial against human rights activist Peter Steudtner opened. In: zeit.de
  11. ↑ Public prosecutor requests that human rights activist Steudtner's custody be lifted. In: spiegel.de , October 25, 2017
  12. ↑ Steudtner dismissed - "We are incredibly grateful". In: FAZ.net , October 26, 2017
  13. ^ Özcan Mutlu : Trial report. In: turkishpress.de
  14. ^ Peter Steudtner: The social integration of child soldiers: Concepts and experiences from Mozambique. (PDF) Berghof Foundation , December 2000, p. 2 , accessed on July 25, 2017 (Vita).
  15. ^ A b Claudia van Laak : In Turkish custody: prayers for Peter Steudtner. In: Deutschlandfunk . July 25, 2017. Retrieved July 25, 2017 .
  16. ↑ a b trainers. (No longer available online.) Act without violence eV, archived from the original on August 2, 2017 ; accessed on July 26, 2017 (Vita). Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.gewaltfreihandeln.org
  17. ↑ Peter Steudtner. In: ulexproject.org. Retrieved July 18, 2017 .
  18. ↑ Terrorist accusation: German human rights activist has to be arrested in Turkey. In: Spiegel Online . Retrieved July 18, 2017 .
  19. ↑ Maximilian Popp: What else? Why the federal government urgently needs to realign its policy towards Erdogan. In: Spiegel Daily . Retrieved July 19, 2017 .
  20. ↑ Human rights defenders and advisers arrested in Turkey. In: Curve Wustrow Education and Meeting Center for Nonviolent Action eV Accessed on July 19, 2017 .
  21. ^ German again imprisoned in Turkey "Federal government crashed". In: Spiegel Online . July 18, 2017. Retrieved July 18, 2017 .
  22. ↑ Imprisoned human rights activist: Turkey lifts solitary confinement for Steudtner. In: Spiegel Online . August 16, 2017. Retrieved June 9, 2018 .
  23. ↑ Quoted from: Turkey: "Arrested activists in Istanbul planned riots" . In: turkishpress.de . July 9, 2017. Retrieved July 22, 2017.
  24. ↑ a b Büyükada - activists had secret documents . In: turkishpress.de . July 19, 2017. Retrieved July 24, 2017.
  25. ^ A b Mike Szymanski: Suspicious because of a training course . In: sueddeutsche.de . 19th July 2017
  26. ↑ Gabriel comments on Steudtner's accusation - "Not acceptable". In: welt.de , October 8, 2017, accessed October 26, 2017
  27. ^ Trial against human rights activist Steudtner begins on October 25th. In: Spiegel Online . October 17, 2017. Retrieved October 17, 2017 .
  28. ↑ Turkey: Public Prosecutor's Office demands the release of Peter Steudtner. In: The time. October 25, 2017. Retrieved October 25, 2017 .
  29. ↑ Christoph Schult: Case Peter Steudtner: Former Chancellor Schröder mediated with Erdogan. In: Spiegel Online. October 26, 2017. Retrieved October 27, 2017 .
  30. ↑ Steudtner and Gharavi freely: "very happy and relieved". In: The time. October 26, 2017. Retrieved October 26, 2017 .
  31. ↑ "Erdogan offered federal government prisoner exchange" Focus.de December 2, 2017
  32. ^ A b Peter Steudtner: "Absurd insinuations". In: zeit.de . July 18, 2017. Retrieved July 18, 2017 .
  33. ^ Detention of Human Rights Defenders in Turkey. US Department of State. July 6, 2017, accessed July 24, 2017; USA distances itself from Turkey. In: tagesschau.de . July 19, 2017. Retrieved July 24, 2017.
  34. ^ Federal Government: "We are in solidarity with Peter Steudtner". In: Deutschlandfunk . 18th July 2017.
  35. ↑ Merkel can no longer remain silent on Turkey. In: Die Welt July 18, 2017
  36. ↑ Merkel calls detention for human rights activists unjustified. In: Spiegel Online . 18th July 2017.
  37. ↑ Dieter Junker: EKD peace commissioner Renke Brahms: Release Peter Steudtner immediately. In: Evangelical peace work. July 18, 2017. Retrieved July 19, 2017 .
  38. ↑ Gabriel summons the Turkish ambassador. In: Spiegel Online . July 19, 2017. Retrieved July 21, 2017.
  39. ↑ The Foreign Office quotes the Turkish ambassador for discussion. In: Auswaertiges-amt.de. July 19, 2017. Retrieved July 20, 2017 .
  40. ↑ a b Severin Weiland: Rhetorical upgrade . In: Spiegel Online . July 19, 2017. Retrieved July 21, 2017.
  41. ↑ Christine Heuer: "Stoltenberg appears too defensive against Erdogan". In: Deutschlandfunk online . July 19, 2017, accessed on July 21, 2017 (interview).
  42. ^ German-Turkish relations: "Gabriel left the door open". In: Deutschlandfunk . July 20, 2017, accessed on July 24, 2017 (Gökay Sofuoglu in conversation with Dirk-Oliver Heckmann).
  43. ^ Statement by Minister for Foreign Affairs Margot Wallström on the arrests in Turkey. Swedish Government , July 20, 2017, accessed July 20, 2017 .
  44. ↑ Germany-Turkey: Relations on the Test Stand. In: Wiener Zeitung . July 20, 2017. Retrieved July 24, 2017 .
  45. ↑ No: 237, 20 July 2017, Press Release Regarding the Statements of German Authorities. (No longer available online.) Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkey, July 20, 2017, archived from the original on July 20, 2017 ; accessed on July 20, 2017 (English). Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.mfa.gov.tr
  46. ^ Melanie Berger: Prayer and concert for Peter Steudtner. In: tagesspiegel.de . July 20, 2017. Retrieved July 24, 2017.
  47. ↑ Yildirim for de-escalation in the dispute with Germany. In: Deutschlandfunk . July 21, 2017. Retrieved July 21, 2017 .
  48. ↑ No: 238, 21 July 2017, Press Release Regarding the Statement of the Foreign Minister of the Federal Republic of Germany, Mr. Sigmar Gabriel, on Turkey. (No longer available online.) Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkey, July 21, 2017, archived from the original on July 29, 2017 ; accessed on July 21, 2017 (English). Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.mfa.gov.tr
  49. ^ Letter from Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel to people of Turkish origin in Germany. Federal Foreign Office , July 22, 2017, accessed on July 24, 2017 (press release, in German and Turkish).
  50. ↑ Ludwig Greven: Sigmar Gabriel: The German Turks are not to blame. In: Zeit Online . July 22, 2017, retrieved July 24, 2017 (comment).
  51. ↑ Turkey is unaffected by EU criticism of imprisonment. In: sueddeutsche.de . July 25, 2017.
  52. ^ Federal government for the disinterested: Complete BPK of July 26, 2017. In: jungundnaiv.de. Retrieved August 3, 2017 .
  53. ^ Full text: Government press conference on July 26th. German Federal Government , accessed on August 7, 2017 .
  54. ↑ Angela Dewan, Gul Tuysuz: In the crosshairs: The Americans detained in Turkey. In: CNN.com , October 11, 2017
  55. ↑ Turkey sentenced American journalist to prison. In: FAZ.net . October 11, 2017.
  56. ↑ spiegel.de December 1, 2017: Erdogan offered Berlin prisoner exchange
  57. ↑ Peter Steudtner awarded QHS Peace Prize Quaker Aid Foundation. Accessed March 12, 2018 (German).
personal data
SURNAME Steudtner, Peter
BRIEF DESCRIPTION German political scientist, human rights activist and documentary filmmaker
DATE OF BIRTH 1971
PLACE OF BIRTH Berlin