German, Turkish leaders discuss German convicted in Turkey

BERLIN – The German and Turkish leaders have discussed the case of a German man convicted in Turkey of membership in a banned Kurdish organization and sentenced to six years and three months in prison.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said she discussed the case of the man, whom officials have identified as Patrick Kraicker, with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on the sidelines of a four-nation summit on Syria in Istanbul on Saturday.

Merkel called for “fair treatment” of the man and good consular access. Erdogan said that the German can appeal Friday’s verdict “and of course we will respect that.”

Turkey accused Kraicker of being a member of the YPG militia. Supporters deny that, saying Kraicker was on a hiking holiday near the Turkish-Syrian border.