This archive report was first published on 5 October 2019.
On October 4, 2019, Turkish authorities detained five Germans on terror charges, sparking concerns about the implications of this move.
The detainees were taken into custody on charges of spreading propaganda and belonging to an illegal organization, which is likely the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).
The PKK is considered a terror group by Ankara, the United States, and the European Union.
The arrests were part of an investigation by the Ankara public prosecutor, but his office refused to confirm the report when contacted by AFP.
The Kurdistan Workers' Party has waged an insurgency against the Turkish state since 1984, resulting in the deaths of tens of thousands of people.
Germany's foreign ministry stated that it was 'aware of the cases' and was providing consular assistance through its embassy in Ankara.
However, the German interior ministry denied claims that information leading to the detention of the five was handed over to Turkish authorities during Interior Minister Horst Seehofer's visit to Ankara.
Despite this denial, a ministry spokesman refused to rule out the possibility of such information being exchanged 'as part of the routine cooperation between our security services.'
Earlier this year, Turkish Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu threatened to detain individuals who came to Turkey if they were involved with the PKK and other groups.
"We have now taken measures against those who take part in the terror organisation's meetings in Europe, Germany and then come to Antalya, Bodrum, Mugla for a holiday," he said.
"Let them enter the airports. They will be detained," he added.
