June 26, 2024
Patrick Kraicker, a German citizen who was imprisoned in Turkey for six years on charges of "membership in an organization," has been released and returned to Germany. His case, which alleges violations of his rights to liberty, security, and a fair trial, is currently pending at Turkey's Constitutional Court.
Kraicker was arrested in 2018 in the Silopi district of Şırnak, southeastern Turkey, on accusations of aiding and abetting a terrorist organization. He was detained while allegedly attempting to cross into Syria. Prosecutors claimed that he intended to join the YPG, a Kurdish militia group. Despite not knowing the language, Kraicker was interrogated without a translator or lawyer and reportedly confessed to plans to join the YPG. This confession was included in the indictment, leading to his conviction by the Şırnak 1st High Criminal Court and a sentence of six years and three months in prison.
Defended by lawyers from the Media and Law Studies Association (MLSA), Kraicker was released from prison in Ankara on June 23, 2024, after serving his full sentence. He was then transferred to the Akyurt Removal Center in Ankara before flying back to Germany on a scheduled flight on June 26.
Claims of mistreatment in prison
Kraicker's journey through the Turkish legal system was fraught with difficulties. After his arrest in Silopi, he faced charges of attempting to join the YPG in Syria. During his interrogation, conducted without proper legal or linguistic support, Kraicker allegedly confessed to his intentions, a confession that became a critical part of the prosecution's case.
Following his conviction, Kraicker was moved between several prisons before being transferred to Sincan Prison in June 2022. Although eligible for conditional release on December 1, 2022, under Turkish penal laws that allow inmates to be released early for good behavior, the Sincan Prison Administration and Observation Board repeatedly denied Kraicker's applications for early release.
In response, MLSA lawyers filed an individual application with the Constitutional Court on January 19, 2023, arguing that Kraicker's rights to liberty, security, and a fair trial had been violated.
Upon his release, Kraicker’s lawyers reported that he was in good condition and promptly left Turkey for Germany. His case remains a point of contention, highlighting ongoing issues within the Turkish judicial and penal systems concerning the treatment and rights of foreign nationals.
