A German journalist whose whereabouts remained unknown for several months after being detained in Syria has been released and returned home, her lawyer confirmed on Monday. Eva Maria Michelmann was freed from a prison in Damascus on Friday and arrived in Berlin later the same day, according to a statement issued by her lawyer, Roland Meister.
“She's doing as well as can be expected under the circumstances,” Meister said, while cautioning that her release should not be interpreted as an indication that she has fully recovered from the physical and psychological effects of her detention.
The 36-year-old journalist and her Kurdish-Turkish colleague, Ahmet Polad, were taken into custody by Syrian government forces in January during military operations linked to the capture of Raqqa and the campaign against the Syrian Democratic Forces.
For months, Michelmann's location remained unclear. Her detention was officially acknowledged by Syrian authorities only after mounting international pressure, including calls for her release by the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) and various media organisations and human rights groups. While Michelmann has now been released, Polad remains in custody and his current whereabouts are still unknown.
Also read: Starmer out as crisis-hit UK begins hunt for new PM
“We demand the immediate and unconditional release of Ahmet Polad,” Meister said, adding that authorities should allow unrestricted access to him for medical personnel, legal representatives and family members.
Michelmann, a native of Cologne in western Germany, had been reporting from Syria since 2022. According to the CPJ, she and Polad worked for the Istanbul-based Etkin News Agency (ETHA) as well as Ozgur TV, a broadcaster that operates in several European cities.
Her lawyer expressed gratitude to officials from the German Foreign Ministry and staff at Germany's embassies in Damascus and Beirut for their efforts in securing her release.
Michelmann's family also welcomed the news, expressing relief that she had finally regained her freedom and returned safely to Germany. “I am immensely relieved that my sister is now free,” said her brother, Antonius Michelmann. He added that her release had only been possible because of the widespread solidarity shown toward both journalists and their families throughout the ordeal.
“It is now high time for Ahmet to be released as well,” he said, renewing calls for the Kurdish-Turkish reporter's freedom. The case has drawn significant attention from press freedom advocates, who continue to urge Syrian authorities to provide information about Polad and ensure his immediate release.
Follow us
