The Syrian Information Ministry announced that German journalist Eva Michelmann and Kurdish-Turkish journalist Ahmed Polad were found during a sweep by Interior Ministry forces in Raqqa, inside a former security headquarters of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).
The ministry told the Associated Press today, Friday, May 1, that the two detainees did not provide documents proving their identities when they were arrested and initially refused to reveal who they were, saying they worked in the humanitarian field, before later saying they were connected to work for the United Nations, which the authorities said was incorrect.
The ministry added that Michelmann and Polad tried to flee during the initial investigations, leading to their detention on suspicion of illegal presence in areas under state control and their classification as “foreign fighters.” Legal procedures against them will be completed, and they will be referred to the judiciary, the ministry said, without officially clarifying the charges.
German journalist Michelmann was last seen on January 18, when forces affiliated with the Syrian government detained her along with her colleague, Kurdish-Turkish journalist Polad, during military operations in Raqqa against the SDF, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists.
Earlier Calls to Reveal Her Fate
The detention of German journalist Eva Maria Michelmann sparked a wave of reactions in European circles, amid growing criticism of the way European governments and institutions have handled her case.
According to an open letter reported by the website koeln.t-online and signed by several journalists and human rights activists, direct criticism was directed at the German government and the European Commission over what the letter described as a “failure to provide clear and updated information” about Michelmann’s fate, despite months having passed since her disappearance.
The letter noted that the absence of information comes despite what the signatories consider “good political and diplomatic relations” between Berlin and Damascus during the transitional phase, particularly after Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa’s official visit to the German capital, Berlin, in late March.
The letter also said the continued lack of transparency over the journalist’s situation raises questions about the effectiveness of diplomatic channels in addressing cases involving European citizens in conflict zones, calling for clearer action and greater political pressure to ensure her fate and the conditions of her detention are revealed.
In the same context, European media and human rights bodies demanded urgent official clarifications and the opening of direct channels with Syrian authorities to obtain accurate information, saying the case has moved beyond an individual matter to become a test of states’ commitment to protecting journalists in conflict zones.
Call for Her Release
Michelmann’s family expressed concern over her situation in detention in Syria, after it was confirmed that she had been held since her disappearance in January in the Raqqa governorate.
Her brother, Antonius Michelmann, said in media statements that his sister is being subjected to what he described as “torture” in solitary confinement, while also expressing “great relief” that it had been confirmed she was still alive.
Antonius called for immediate access to her place of detention for an independent medical team, lawyers, and family members, in addition to her immediate release, stressing that her continued detention under these conditions is unacceptable.
Who Is Eva Michelmann?
Eva Maria Michelmann is a journalist from the German city of Cologne. She was born in 1989 and worked for several Kurdish media institutions, including the ETHA agency and Özgür TV.
According to Junge Welt, Michelmann arrived in northeastern Syria in 2022 as an international journalist and covered events in the area during the war. In addition to her work as a journalist, Michelmann worked as a social worker, covered women’s rights and social issues, and was interested in the Kurdish cause.
Her brother, Antonius Michelmann, said, “My sister worked for years as a freelance journalist defending victims of racism and fascism.”
Antonius added that she traveled to Kurdish areas because of her interest in the development of the “Autonomous Administration,” especially “Kurdish women’s struggle for their rights,” saying hundreds of people are missing in addition to his sister, according to Germany’s ntv.
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