Member of the Bundestag Luise Amtsberg (Greens) submitted a written question to the German Federal Government.
In it,¹ she asked:
“What measures has the Federal Government taken to secure visitation rights and the release of the […] German journalist Eva Maria Michelmann, […] and to what extent did the Federal Government raise this case with the Syrian transitional president Ahmed al-Sharaa during his recent visit to Berlin?”
In its reply¹ of May, the Federal Government stated that, following “intensive and high-level efforts”, it had obtained access to Eva Maria Michelmann on 23 April. From that point onwards, the Federal Foreign Office would continue to provide consular assistance.
The Government once again stated that, as a matter of principle, it does not comment on the contents of confidential discussions.
In March, the three Members of the European Parliament Per Clausen (The Left), Hanna Gedin (The Left), and Jonas Sjöstedt (The Left) submitted a question to the European Commission:
- To what extent, if at all, have EU representatives raised this urgent matter with the Syrian transitional government?
- What new measures does the European External Action Service intend to take to obtain information about the two journalists and secure their release, and when will these measures be implemented?
- What steps is the European External Action Service taking to ensure the safety of journalists reporting independently from Syria, including European journalists?
On 3 June, the Vice-President of the Commission, Kaja Kallas, replied:
The EU is closely monitoring developments in north-eastern Syria, including reports concerning the disappearance of two journalists in Raqqa.
She placed the abduction of Michelmann and Polad within the context of the “broader issue of missing persons throughout Syria”:
“The EU calls on the Syrian transitional authorities to carry out prompt, transparent, and impartial investigations into all such cases, in cooperation with the National Commission for Missing Persons as well as relevant international mechanisms such as the International Commission on Missing Persons and the Independent Institution on Missing Persons in the Syrian Arab Republic.”
Furthermore, the EU stated that it remains committed to supporting the safety of independent reporting in Syria.
These Answers Are Not Enough
We are aware that the decision to permit visits to prisoners lies with the Syrian transitional government. At the same time, it is clear that both the EU and the German Federal Government possess considerable political and economic leverage. During the various meetings and state visits between European politicians and the new Syrian government, financial aid and support for reconstruction have been placed on the table.
One thing is clear: Through their diplomatic standing and financial resources, the Federal Government and the EU hold the stronger position.
Eva Michelmann’s brother, Antonius Michelmann, voiced sharp criticism on this point during the most recent press conference. There is, he said, a “catalogue of pressure mechanisms” that remains unused. Apparently, there is no political will to advocate for the fate of Eva Michelmann and Ahnet Polad with the necessary determination. In his assessment, if such political will existed within the Federal Government, both journalists could already be on a plane home within a matter of days.
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