A pro-government television channel in Syria has broadcast an interview with Turkish journalist Cüneyt Ünal, who said that he was captured by Syrian loyalist forces on Aug. 20 in Aleppo, Reuters reported.
Ünal appeared exhausted and nervous with apparent bruises under both eyes in the interview, which aired Sunday on the Al Ikhbariya news channel. He also reportedly said he travelled from the Turkish border to Aleppo with an armed group of foreign fighters that linked up with rebels opposed to President Bashar al-Assad.
Reuters reported that Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, at a news conference in Ankara on Monday, said Ünal “was forced to make a statement that was dictated to him”. Davutoglu added: “Is there a possibility Cüneyt Ünal, who went to the region to conduct journalism, has turned into a militant? We do not take the claims seriously in any form.”
IPI Deputy Director Anthony Mills said: “We are very concerned for the wellbeing of Mr. Ünal, given his appearance in the interview. We remind the Syrian government that it is responsible for his safety and we reiterate our demand for his immediate release.”