Syria Must Free Turkish Journalists Adem Özköse and Hamit Coşkun

Turkish journalists, Adem Özköse and Hamit Coşkun disappeared in Idlib March 2012, and were reported to have been kidnapped by Syrian regime agents along with their fellow Bhaa Al-Deen, who was released later, They are being detained in Security Branchnumber 285 in Kafr Souseh, Damascus in the northern prison and they are kept in a 1.5 M. solitary confinement.

Reporter Özköse and cameraman Coşkun entered Syria over a month ago in order to film a documentary and report on developments there, Ali Adakoğlu, chief editor at their newspaper, Milat, told IPI Turkey at the time. Özköse is also a correspondent for Gercek Hayat (Real Life) magazine, reports say.

Their last contact with their offices was on March 10. Later that month, Turkish officials confirmed that the journalists were alive and said the Syrian government had confirmed it knew of their whereabouts, but denied reports suggesting Turkey would consider exchanging a number of Syrian generals who had defected for the journalists.

At least one of the detained journalists is reported to have been tortured.

"We are deeply alarmed at suggestions that Adem Özköse and Hamit Coşkun appear to be in the custody of the Syrian government, and that at least one of the two journalists may have been tortured,” said International Press Institute Acting Deputy Director Anthony Mills. “If the two journalists are in fact in the hands of the authorities then they must be released immediately, along with all of the other Syrian reporters who have been detained. Furthermore, those responsible for maltreatment in any form must be held accountable.”