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DPA
BERLIN
A German journalist recently freed from prison in Turkey after over a year in custody has criticised Chancellor Angela Merkel's government for its underlying policy toward Turkey.
In an interview published Sunday in German media, Deniz Yucel, who was indicted by a Turkish court in February 2017 on charges of espionage, thanked the German government for its support during his time in Turkish prison, but said Merkel's government"has twice betrayed all the progressive and democratic forces in Turkey."
On one hand, said Yucel, Merkel's government in 2005"made it clear to Turks: you are not coming to the EU, no matter what you do,"at a time when Turkey still appeared to be on a path towards a deeper relationship with Europe.
According to Yucel, the second betrayal came with Merkel's visit to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in the wake of the refugee crisis in 2015, and shortly before a general election in Turkey.
