ANKARA
One of four foreign journalists was deported Wednesday following an attempt to enter Turkey illegally from Syria, according to the Directorate General of Press and Information (DGPI).
Der Spiegel reporter Christoph Arnd Reuter was captured Tuesday in the back of a truck at the Kilis-Oncupinar border gate along the Turkish-Syrian border, the DGPI said Thursday.
Reuter, who reportedly arrived at Istanbul's Ataturk Airport on May 1 and travelled to the Syrian city of Aleppo the following day in order to write a story about the recent developments in the country, was deported to Germany on Wednesday evening, the directorate said.
Three other foreign journalists, who were also recently captured while trying to cross into Turkey illegally from Syria, are waiting to be deported, the DGPI said, adding that U.S. citizen Eva Elizabeth Chappell was caught by security forces on April 25 while Brazilian citizen Gabriel Chaim and German citizen Robin Hinsch were caught on May 5, as they tried to enter Turkey through the southeastern province of Sanliurfa along the Syrian border.
"This is a routine procedure applied to those who try to enter the country illegally. Unless they are asylum seekers, occupation does not make a difference and no privileges are granted," DGPI General Director Cemalettin Hasimi told Anadolu Agency.
"Turkey is doing whatever Germany, Brazil or the U.S. would do in case a foreign journalist entered their countries illegally, which is to deport the people in question in accordance with law and to ban their entry into the country," Hasimi said, adding that if these journalists were based in Turkey, their press cards would be revoked.
Turkey shares an 800-km long border with Syria.
