Cologne: Relatives of a German journalist believed to be jailed in Syria have called on Chancellor Friedrich Merz to campaign for her release. In an open letter, 160 signatories appealed for Merz, along with German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, to join the effort to free Eva Maria Michelmann. The Cologne native has been missing in Syria for three months and is allegedly being held in a prison in Aleppo. The German Foreign Office last week said it has been able to establish contact with her.
According to Ghana News Agency, investigations by the family's lawyers suggest she was arrested on January 18 along with her Turkish-Kurdish colleague Ahmet Polad by forces linked to the Syrian transitional government. The journalist's mother, Rotraut Hake-Michelmann, expressed relief at a press conference in Cologne on Monday that her daughter was still alive. However, she criticized the German Foreign Office, stating that their actions so far have been limited to 'fine words' and urged them to follow through with concrete measures, warning against 'empty phrases' from the government.
Michelmann's brother, Antonius Michelmann, also voiced his concerns, stating that to his knowledge, the German government has not yet raised the case at the highest level. He emphasized the family's expectation for the government to prioritize the case, expressing disbelief at Germany's cooperation with the Syrian regime without criticism. He criticized the 'red-carpet treatment' extended to Syria's interim president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, during his visit to Berlin in late March.
Reports indicate that Michelmann had been working in Syria as a freelance journalist since 2022 and was actively involved in advocating for women's rights.