The EU said Thursday that it was
backing Italy in its bid to get Gabriele Del Grande, a reporter
and documentary maker arrested in Turkey, released as soon as
possible.
"The EU acted to support the action of the Italian ambassador
in Ankara, to support the action of the foreign ministry and the
Italian government towards the Turkish authorities," Foreign
Affairs High Representative Federica Mogherini said, saying "we
co-ordinated with Italy from the start".
Meanwhile Del Grande's partner Alexandra D'Onofrio told la
Repubblica newspaper that he had been arrested "just because he
speaks with refugees".
She said "he goes with a backpack on his back and chats, he
spends hours speaking with people in their language, he doesn't
go looking for scoops but for things that will make us think."
Italy was also offered help by the German foreign ministry,
which has a reporter of its own held in Turkey since February,
Deniz Yucel.
Foreign Minister Angelino Alfano on Wednesday phoned his
Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu to "reiterate our firm
request for the immediate release" of Del Grande, who has been
held without charges since being stopped on the Turkey-Syria
border on the night of April 9.
Alfano said he had received the "utmost commitment" from the
Turkish government that "procedures will be completed as soon as
possible".
Alfano said he aimed to "make them understand clearly our
country's level of concern on this affair".
A delegation from the Italian consulate in the Turkish city
of Izmir on Wednesday travelled to the Turkish administrative
detention centre at Mugla, on Turkey's southern Aegean coast,
where Del Grande has been held.
Del Grande's lawyer went there along with the Italian vice
consul in Ankara but "Turkish authorities prevented them from
seeing him", Lower House human rights committee chair Luigi
Manconi told reporters after talking to the lawyer by phone.
Del Grande, 34, phoned Italy Tuesday to say he was well but
that he would start a hunger strike to demand his rights be
respected.
"I'm well, they haven't touched a hair on my head but I can't
phone, they seized my cellphone and belongings, although they're
not charging me with anything," said Del Grande using the
administrative detention centre's landline, saying he was
surrounded by four policemen.
Human rights campaigner Del Grande said he would start a
hunger strike that evening "and I urge everyone to mobilise to
demand my rights be respected".
He said "my documents are in order, but I have not been
allowed to name a lawyer, nor have I been informed when this
detention will end.
"The reason for the arrest is linked to the content of my
work. I have been subjected to questioning in this regard. I
have been able to phone only after days of protests".
Lucca-born Del Grande, a blogger and human rights activist,
was arrested in Hatay Province near the Syria-Turkey border.
Del Grande is also a documentary maker who has raised
awareness on migrant issues.
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