German Chancellor Angela Merkel has again demanded the release of the Germans imprisoned in Turkey after the failed coup attempt in July 2016.
"We explicitly demand that the people detained there will be released," the CDU leader said on Tuesday during her summer press conference in Berlin.
Among the ten Germans imprisoned for political reasons in Turkey are the journalist Deniz Yücel, the translator Mesale Tolu and the human rights activist Peter Steudtner. They are accused of supporting terrorist organizations.
The Federal Government has strengthened the measures against Turkey and tightened the travel security recommendations.
Merkel spoke of a "very complicated phase of our relations."
"I would love to have better relations with Turkey, but we have to look at reality," she said, demanding that the Turkish government has to "comply with constitutional principles."
