Barcelona asks Spanish prosecutors to release Turkish journalist arrested at airport

Members of Barcelona's city government sent letters on Wednesday to Spanish prosecutors to demand the release of a Swedish-Turkish journalist arrested on August 3 at the Catalan capital’s airport while he was on his way to London. Hamza Yalçin had an international warrant by Turkey out for his arrest and after his detention, the National Court sent him to jail provisionally. In the coming weeks, the judges will have to decide whether he will be extradited to the country ruled by Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. Barcelona’s local government expressed its “deep concern” over the events and demanded Yalçin’s extradition be ignored. 

Barcelona, “a city committed to the defense of human rights”

“It should be remembered that Turkey is the country with the most jailed journalists, according to data from the European Federation of Journalists,” stated the letter sent on Wednesday. Moreover, it highlighted that Barcelona is “a city committed to the defense of human rights” and branded Yalçin’s current situation as “unfair”. The missive was sent to Spain’s public prosecutor and to the National Court’s head prosecutor.