Turkey has deported an Italian journalist following a two-week detention, adding to a long list of foreign reporters who are unwanted in the country.
The Italian government has worked hard to secure the release of Gabriele Del Grande, the 34 years old journalist who was detained on April 24 while interviewing Syrian refugees in southern Turkey. Mr. Grande’s work in Turkey was part of a book project he was working on about the birth of the Islamic State.
Italian Foreign Minister Angelino Alfano said on Twitter on Monday that he had the “great joy” of telling the journalist’s family that their son is freed and on his way to Italy. He thanked his Turkish counterpart, Mevlut Cavusoglu, for the release of the journalist.
Last week, Italian Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni said from the White House that Turkey was a NATO ally and that he hopes the cooperation with Turkey results in the release of Mr. Grande.
Mr. Grande has become the 26th foreign journalist to be detained, deported or forced into exile in the past 3 years.
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