One of the two Germans arrested last week has been released, Berlin officials said on Monday. The "positive news" came from the suspect's lawyer, they added.

Just one day earlier, Turkish officials warned to Berlin to keep out of its domestic affairs, after it emerged that the two were arrested "for political reasons."

Turkey's foreign minister, Mevlut Cavusoglu, was quoted by the Anadolu news agency of telling Germany that the latest detentions were "not your concern" and dismissing the German government's furious reaction.

Read more: 'Turkey is only hurting itself,' policy expert tells DW

"When we arrest (a coup plotter) Germany starts to get upset. But what are we supposed to do?" Cavusoglu was quoted of saying. "This is also a Turkish citizen but it (Germany) asks why are you arresting my citizen?"

Turkey has arrested some 50,000 people following the failed coup in July 2016. At least 55 are known to be German citizens, 12 of which are being held as "political prisoners," according to Germany's Foreign Ministry.

The latest arrests took place at the end of last week, after two German nationals were detained at Antalya airport in southeastern Turkey over suspected links with the failed coup, according to Turkey's Dogan news agency.

While the Turkish government said the men were Turkish citizens, Germany's Foreign Ministry said Friday that it believes the men only held German passports.

Cavusoglu's remarks came a day after Turkey's Prime Minister, Binali Yildirim, told German lawmakers to "mind their own business" over the detention of German nationals.

Germany ready to scrap Turkey's EU membership talks

Relations between Berlin and Ankara have deteriorated sharply since last year's coup attempt and the Turkish government's subsequent crackdown against alleged political dissidents. The arrest of Deniz Yücel, Istanbul correspondent for German daily Die Welt, and rights campaigner Peter Steudtner, have only further frayed ties.

Watch video 26:00 Share Erdogan’s Provocation: Who Can Stop Him? Send Facebook google+ Whatsapp Tumblr linkedin stumble Digg reddit Newsvine Permalink https://p.dw.com/p/2imHd Erdogan’s Provocation: Who Can Stop Him?

During Sunday evening's televised German election debate, Chancellor Angela Merkel announced that she would seek to end Turkey's EU membership talks, adding that she didn't "see (Turkey) ever joining and I had never believed that it would happen."

Read more: Open letter from jailed journalist Deniz Yücel's wife: Open the door, it's me

Last week Germany's top diplomat Sigmar Gabriel similarly said that EU accession was out of the question for Turkey as long as Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was still leading the country.

"Turkey under the Erdogan government will never be able to lead serious accession negotiations, because he is removing Turkey from Europe," Gabriel told German broadcaster ZDF last week. "He would, however, like to give Turks in Germany and in Turkey the impression that we're the ones who are burning bridges."

Germany has in recent weeks embarked on a more hardline approach against Turkey. In July, Gabriel delivered the government's most strongly worded statement yet against the Turkey and Erdogan government regime. As part of Germany's "reorientation" in policy towards Turkey, Germany's top diplomat warned German citizens to exercise extreme caution when traveling to Turkey and advised German firms against investing and doing business in the country.

Turks mark coup anniversary with disparate view of justice, sacrifice One year after the coup attempt On Saturday, Turks observed the anniversary of last year’s failed coup, commemorating the nearly 250 people who lost their lives during the event and celebrating the perseverance of the nation. The largest crowds gathered at Istanbul’s Bosphorus Bridge and in central Ankara, pictured above, where demonstrators marched to Turkey’s parliament to attend a speech by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Turks mark coup anniversary with disparate view of justice, sacrifice Disparate views in post-coup Turkey Among the crowds, were many who personally confronted the military on the night of the coup and had made personal sacrifices to defend the democratically elected government. In contrast, opponents of President Erdogan mostly stayed home, viewing the ongoing purges and Turkey’s extended state of emergency as affronts to the nation’s democratic principles that have undermined the rule of law.

Turks mark coup anniversary with disparate view of justice, sacrifice “Our Democracy Watch Continues” A banner in Ankara reads “Our Democracy Watch Continues,” in reference to democracy watch rallies that took place nightly during the month following the coup attempt. One year on, some Erdogan supporters believe followers of Fethullah Gulen, who the government blames for organizing the putsch, are still working in state offices and may be plotting a second coup attempt.

Turks mark coup anniversary with disparate view of justice, sacrifice Support for ongoing purges Sahibe, 45, a store clerk not pictured above, spoke in favor of the ongoing purges, which have laid off more than 150,000 people over the last year and jailed about 50,000. She said innocent citizens had nothing to worry about and that she hopes “the state of emergency continues until we cleanse the roots Gulenists have made in our country.”

Turks mark coup anniversary with disparate view of justice, sacrifice Extended state of emergency Yet not all attendees at Saturday’s rallies supported the year-old state of emergency. “I am anxious about the current situation because it gives soldiers the authority to do anything they want,” said Ahmed, who did not give a surname. “If there was a referendum on extending the state of emergency, I think the majority of people would vote against it.”

Turks mark coup anniversary with disparate view of justice, sacrifice “Stay strong, the people are with you” A pro-government demonstrator holds a flag featuring Erdogan with the words: “Stay strong, the people are with you.” Reflecting on Erdogan’s leadership, a taxi driver near the rally said, “May god protect us if this man is re-elected in 2019. He’ll bring sharia law to Turkey, which is no problem for men, but it will make life miserable for women.”

Turks mark coup anniversary with disparate view of justice, sacrifice “We have lost many rights “ Those who didn’t support the rallies kept their distance, such as Seyma Urper, a human rights lawyer working in the southeastern city of Sirnak. "Since the coup attempt, most employees in my municipality were dismissed and the mayor was replaced with a state-appointed trustee," Urper said. "We have lost many rights and it’s getting harder to do my job."

Turks mark coup anniversary with disparate view of justice, sacrifice “Our country is stronger than ever” Erol Kanmaz, not pictured above, said his son was shot in the leg on the night of the coup attempt and spent the subsequent six months in the hospital to undergo four surgeries. “I came out tonight to protect my homeland,” Kanmaz said. “Those Gulenist traitors tried to infiltrate our military, but now our country is stronger than ever.”

Turks mark coup anniversary with disparate view of justice, sacrifice “Tell us to die, we will die” Sureyya Kalayci (left) displays a homemade t-shirt stating: “A call is enough. Call us and we’ll come. Tell us to die, we will die.” On 15 July 2016, Kalayci and his son Ahmet (right), blocked military vehicles in Ankara’s streets, helping to foil the attempted coup. “If it wasn’t for the people, the military would’ve taken over our country,” Kalayci said.

Turks mark coup anniversary with disparate view of justice, sacrifice “We are the grandchildren of the Ottomans” A demonstrator holds up a scarf reading: “We are the grandchildren of the Ottomans.” Many people in the crowds on Saturday night expressed support for President Erdogan’s policies and believed he was the only leader that could restore Turkey’s stance as an international power, which was tarnished with the fall of the Ottoman Empire 100 years ago. Author: Diego Cupolo



dm/kl (dpa, AFP)