In a surprising move, Turkey has released a Vice journalist after 131 days of imprisonment.
Turkish police arrested Mohammed Rasool on August 27, 2015 while reporting on conflict near Turkey's border with Syria. Rasool had been working with Phil Pendlebury and Jake Hanrahan, two other Vice News journalists that were also arrested.
[seealso slug=http://sale-online.click/2015/08/31/vice-news-charges-terrorism-turkey%5D%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3EPendlebury and Hanrahan were released after 11 days, but Rasool remained in Turkish detention. All three have been charged with "assisting a terrorist organization," according to a Vice spokesperson, and still face further punishment.
After 131 days our friend Mohammed Rasool has been freed from prison. Happy beyond belief #FreeRasool— Jake Hanrahan (@Jake_Hanrahan) January 5, 2016
"Rasool is now looking forward to being reunited with his family, friends and colleagues, who ask for his privacy to be respected during this time," the spokesperson said in a statement.
Rasool's imprisonment had drawn widespread condemnation and generated a movement to bring awareness to the situation around the hashtag #FreeRasool.
Turkey is considered one of the most dangerous countries for journalists due to the government's aggressive crackdown on those that cover conflicts in the area or give voice to political opposition. Turkey ranks in the bottom 20% for press freedom, as ranked by Reporters Without Borders.
Vice had repeatedly and adamantly called for Rasool's release, even blacking out its news site for two hours in October to bring attention to his plight, as well as creating a video about his imprisonment.