A German journalist arrested in Syria in mid-January, Eva Maria Michelmann, has been released, her family confirmed on Friday.
Her brother, Antonius Michelmann, told dpa she had been released, confirming reports published by the news magazine Der Spiegel.
Michelmann arrived from Jordan on Friday afternoon. "We went to collect her," her brother said. He added that she was doing well, given the circumstances.
He said that she had been held in solitary confinement for an extended period, but did not provide any further details.
The Syrian Ministry of Information has said previously that the journalist, who is from Cologne, was arrested on January 18 in the city of Raqqa during a military operation.
A Kurdish journalist, Ahmed Polad, who is a Turkish citizen, was also detained at the time. There is still no trace of this colleague, said Antonius Michelmann.
Her family said that Eva Maria Michelmann had been working in Syria as a freelance journalist since 2002.
Last month, the Syrian information ministry said that Michelmann was detained in January during a raid on a building belonging to a group linked to the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).
It was reported at the time that, after fighters had barricaded themselves inside, everyone present was detained. Two foreign nationals were also identified during the operation, a ministry statement said.
According to the Syrian ministry at the time, Michelmann initially claimed to be a Spanish national working for an organization affiliated with the United Nations. However, an enquiry made to the UN revealed that no staff members were missing in the area.
In the course of the investigation, it was eventually established that she was a German journalist who had been unable to produce any documents confirming her assignment.
Furthermore, Michelmann and her companion had attempted to escape from custody, the Syrian ministry said at the time.
According to earlier statements by family members, Michelmann had been working in Syria as a freelance journalist since 2022.
Der Spiegel said that the German Embassy in Damascus had provided Michelmann with consular assistance and, together with the Embassy in Beirut, had lobbied the Syrian government for her release from detention.
The German Foreign Office headquarters in Berlin had also been involved in the discussions at a “high level.”
