Missing Turkish journalists in Syria fine, says accompanying guide
The statement follows similar remarks by Turkish government officials confirming that the two journalists are alive.
In yet another piece of good news about two Turkish journalists reported missing in Syria, a Syrian guide who accompanied the two men said he was arrested along with them and that they are fine.
In an interview with Turkey's state-run Anatolia news agency on Thursday, Bahaddin Sherm said he was accompanying Adem Özköse, a reporter from the İstanbul-based Gerçek Hayat magazine and the Milat daily, and Hamit Coşkun, a cameraman, who arrived in Syria on March 5 to shoot a documentary. He said some 50 gunmen stopped their vehicle in Idlib and arrested them on March 8.
“I was also arrested with Adem and Hamit. We are anxious as we did not know where we were or who was holding us. We were relieved when we understood that they would not harm us as they wanted to hold Turkish soldiers hostage. [After 10 days] they let me go, but did not release Adem and Hamit. I refused, but Adem told me to go to let their families and friends know that they are healthy. Then I did,” he said.
Noting that a militia supportive of the Syrian government had arrested them, he added that Özköse and Coşkun sent their regards to their families. “Adem told me that he missed his children very much. I want the families of my friends to know that they are alive and healthy,” he said.
The statement follows similar remarks by Turkish government officials confirming that the two journalists are alive.
Speaking to the Turkish news station NTV on Wednesday, Deputy Prime Minister Bozdağ declared that the ministry definitely knows the two Turkish journalists are alive and announced that the Syrian government has revealed they know where the journalists are.
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