German journalist Eva Maria Michelmann returns to Germany after Syria disappearance

German journalist Eva Maria Michelmann, who went missing early this year in Syria while reporting on the remnants of more than a decade of civil war, returned to Germany on Friday, her lawyer said.

"It can be confirmed that Eva M. Michelmann was released this morning and returned to Germany this afternoon," her lawyer Roland Meister told the AFP news agency, also making similar comments to other outlets.

What had happened to Michelmann?

Michelmann had gone missing during an offensive by Syrian government forces against Kurdish fighters in the northeast in January this year. Her colleague Turkish-Kurdish journalist Ahmed Polad disappeared at the same time.

According to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), they both worked for the Istanbul-based socialist Etkin News Agency (ETHA) and the Ozgur TV channel.

For months it was not entirely clear what had become of them.

The German Foreign Ministry last week said it was working at a high level to secure Michelmann's release.

It wasn't clear why she was detained or if she was charged with any crime.

The West has broadly welcomed the new Syrian government, led by former Islamist militant group leader Ahmed al-Sharaa, who has pledged to turn over a new, inclusive leaf now he's in power in Damascus.

But religious and ethnic minorities including the Kurds in Syria have voiced concern about the new Sunni regime that toppled longstanding dictator Bashar Assad in December 2024.

More to follow...

Edited by: Rana Taha