Turkish lecturer released from Israeli detention

By Turgut Alp Boyraz

JERUSALEM (AA) – Israeli authorities on Sunday released Istanbul Medeniyet University's Assistant Law Professor Cemil Tekeli, according to his lawyer Lea Tsemel.

Tekel was set free this morning and was set to arrive in Istanbul at 10:30 local time, Tsemel said.

The reason of his detention remains unclear as Israeli courts and authorities refrained from issuing any statements on Tekeli and authorities had rejected Anadolu Agency correspondent’s demand to follow his trial.

Tekeli was detained by Israeli police on Jan. 15 at Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport after he attended a program in Jerusalem that began on Jan 11.

Previously speaking to Anadolu Agency, Tekeli’s wife Meryem Tekeli said: "My husband was unlawfully arrested, we are in shock. We only went to Jerusalem for travel reasons. My husband is innocent… Israeli authorities are not giving us any information."

Earlier, his detention had been extended for several times until he was released on Sunday.