A German journalist who lives in Syria at home, the family says | Prison News

Eva Maria Michelmann’s brother is said to have been in the Syrian city of Raqqa since January.

German journalist who was arrested Syria he has been released, his family confirmed.

Eva Maria Michelmann’s brother told dpa that he arrived from Jordan on Friday, having been detained since his arrest in the Syrian city of Raqqa on January 18.

He said he was doing well under the circumstances, but spent a lot of time in solitary confinement.

The Syrian Ministry of Information previously reported that the journalist, who is from Cologne, was arrested on January 18 in the city of Raqqa during the war.

A Kurdish journalist, Ahmed Polad, who is a Turkish citizen, was also arrested at the time. There are no details of this friend, Antonius Michelmann said.

Her family said that Eva Maria Michelmann was working Syria as a freelance journalist since 2002.

Last month, Syria’s Ministry of Information said Michelmann was arrested in January during a raid on a house belonging to a group affiliated with the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).

At the time it was said that after the fighters barricaded themselves inside, everyone present was arrested. The ministry also said that two people from other countries have been arrested during this time.

The SDF controlled the city of Raqqa and many surrounding areas under the control of the Kurdish Democratic Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria between 2017 and January 2026, when power was handed over to the Syrian army under the leadership of President Ahmed al-Sharaa.

According to the Ministry of Information at the time, Michelmann initially claimed to be a Spanish citizen working for an organization affiliated with the United Nations. A study conducted by the UN, however, showed that there is no shortage of workers in the region.

During the investigation, it was revealed that he was a German journalist, the ministry said, adding that he and a friend tried to escape from prison.

The German newspaper Der Spiegel said that the German embassy in Damascus offered support to Michelmann and, together with the embassy in Beirut, asked the Syrian government for his release.