German TV: Turkey reverses course on reporter’s credentials

BERLIN – German public broadcaster ZDF says its Istanbul bureau chief had his media credentials extended following Turkey’s initial refusal to renew his press card and those of several other foreign journalists.

ZDF said Tuesday that Joerg Brase would return to Turkey to resume his work. He left Istanbul on Sunday with another German reporter after being denied a renewed credential.

The broadcaster had accused the Turkish government of trying to silence international news organizations. ZDF says it assumes Thomas Seibert, the Turkey correspondent for Germany’s Tagesspiegel newspaper, and other journalists also will have their credentials approved.

Foreign journalists need press cards to work and live in Turkey.

German Foreign Minister Heiko Mass had criticized Turkey for its treatment of the reporters, telling Tagesspiegel the denials were “not compatible with our understanding of press freedom.”