The two journalists, Marcus Hellwig and Jens Koch, had been detained by the Iranian government on charges including espionage and attempting to undermine Iran’s security system. “DMW leaders contacted me after the American Chamber of Commerce in Germany gave them my name,” Terzioglu said at an event organized by the Aspen Institute Italy. “They were told I might be able to assist in negotiations for the journalists’ release.”
“The reporters had done nothing wrong,” Terzioglu noted, learning that the accusation was entering the country with tourist visas instead of press visas. “They might have spent nine months or more in prison awaiting trial had negotiations not taken place.”
Although Terzioglu did not negotiate the release himself, his association ensured the issue was on President Abdullah Gül’s agenda during his visit to Iran. Gül’s appeal to Iranian authorities led to commuting the sentence to a fine of 50,000 USD for each journalist. German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle then flew to Iran and brought the journalists back to Germany on February 19, 2011.
The press conference followed DMW President Günther Meinel’s trip to Turkey to bestow honorary membership on Terzioglu, the first non-diplomat in Turkey to receive it. In an official letter, Meinel described Terzioglu as “a personality committed to promoting human rights and willing to provide support at the international level.”
The organization also read a message sent to President Gül naming Terzioglu as a key figure in improving German-Turkish relations. It was further announced that DMW will soon open an office in Istanbul under the leadership of Ferhat Bozcelik.
DMW International | News
2011