On 1 August, Kurdish journalist Serkan Demirel was stopped by German police at the German-Dutch border, detained, and ultimately deported to Switzerland under dubious circumstances, despite having valid travel documents, a legal residence permit, and an international press card.
In a detailed personal statement, Demirel now recounts the sequence of events and makes serious allegations against the German authorities. He sees the actions not only as a violation of his individual rights but as a targeted attack on press freedom.
Demirel’s full statement reads as follows:
To the Press and the Public
On August 1, 2025, during a completely legal and properly documented journey from the Netherlands to Germany, I was unlawfully stopped and detained by the German Federal Police.
The incident occurred at 18:50 at the AC-Vetschau border crossing. Without any justification, I was removed from the bus I was traveling on and taken into custody. I was then transported to the Federal Police Directorate in Aachen. Despite having legal residency in Switzerland, holding a valid passport and identification documents, and being entitled to free movement within Europe, I was detained for hours under the claim that I was “banned from entering Germany.”
I clearly stated that I had never been notified of such a ban and requested to be informed of the grounds. However, I was not provided with any written documents. Only after persistent requests was I handed a document dated August 1, 2025, titled “Entry Ban to the Federal Republic of Germany.” The document vaguely stated that I posed a “threat to public order, internal security, and international relations,” without providing any legal or concrete basis. It merely referred to Articles 14 and 15 of the Schengen Borders Code, yet no specific explanation was given as to why these provisions were applied to me.
During the detention process, it was verbally stated that the reason for preventing my entry into Germany was due to my “journalistic activities.” However, I was not presented with any official document confirming this. No criminal charges were brought against me, and I was denied the right to defend myself. My fundamental legal protections were violated. This clearly indicates that I was politically targeted solely because of my journalistic work.
As a political refugee residing in Switzerland since 2013, I hold an international press card and am a registered journalist with several international institutions, including the United Nations Office in Geneva. The German authorities’ disregard for my legal status and rights is a blatant violation of international law and human rights.
Throughout my detention, my request for a Turkish or French interpreter was ignored. I was not allowed to contact my lawyer or my family. Furthermore, I was consistently forced to deal only with police officers of Turkish origin, which severely undermined the impartiality of the procedures. I was later threatened that unless I paid 900 Euros, I would be deported to Turkey and that this would be reported to the consulate. This constitutes outright blackmail, with no legal basis. In order to ensure my personal safety, I was forced to pay the amount under duress.
After approximately five hours in custody, I was escorted by different police teams from Aachen to Mannheim, then to Baden-Baden, and finally to Freiburg. No official records were issued throughout this process. I was then taken to the Swiss border and forced to cross on foot. Despite my repeated requests, no formal handover to Swiss authorities was conducted. This constitutes an unofficial, arbitrary, and degrading deportation procedure carried out by the German Federal Republic.
During the entire transfer process, none of my basic needs were met. I was prevented from communicating with my lawyer and family, and my phone and personal belongings were withheld. I was subjected to threats and psychological pressure by the police throughout the journey.
What I experienced is not only a violation of my individual rights and freedoms, but also a concrete manifestation of a broader effort to criminalize and suppress journalism and freedom of expression. It is clear that I was subjected to this treatment as a direct result of Germany’s policy towards Kurds and its approach to the Kurdish media. Being subjected to such treatment without any criminal charge, judicial decision, or placement on an international watch list is in direct contradiction with the fundamental principles of the European Union, human rights conventions, and the Schengen legal framework.
Therefore, I demand the following from the authorities of the Federal Republic of Germany:
- An immediate and independent investigation into the actions of the police officers involved in this process,
- A clear explanation of the legal basis under which the 900 Euros were taken from me,
- Full disclosure of all records concerning me in the Schengen Information System (SIS) and the reasons for their existence,
- Clarification on when, on what basis, and for what reason the entry ban to Germany was issued, and why it was never previously communicated to me,
- If this ban had indeed been previously issued, an explanation as to why the “Entry Ban to the Federal Republic of Germany” document handed to me was dated August 1, 2025,
- A detailed explanation of why my journalistic activities are considered a threat or criminal offense by Germany, along with the concrete basis for such an assessment,
- An explanation of why I was exclusively dealt with by police officers of Turkish origin, and how this aligns with the principle of impartiality,
- A legal justification for why my fingerprints were taken, and my photographs were taken without my explicit consent, and the legal basis for these actions,
- A thorough and transparent investigation into all the contradictions and unlawful procedures I was subjected to.
As of today, August 4, 2025, I have initiated legal proceedings against this unlawful treatment.
I am making this statement not only on behalf of myself but also on behalf of all journalists in Europe who are targeted for expressing their views or for their identity. I declare to the public, with respect, that I will not bow to pressure and will continue to practice journalism with honor and determination.
In solidarity,
August 4, 2025
Serkan Demirel
Source: ANF News
