German, Turkish journalists missing in Syria

Sulaymaniyah, March 11, 2026 — The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on Syrian authorities to clarify the fate and whereabouts of German journalist Eva Maria Michelmann and Kurdish-Turkish journalist Ahmed Polad, whom their outlets and relatives say have not been heard from since January 18, when the northeastern Syrian city of Raqqa fell to government forces in an offensive against the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces. 

The two journalists, who worked for Istanbul-based socialist Etkin News Agency (ETHA) and Özgür TV, which operates across several cities in Europe, were last seen leaving a building affiliated with Kurdish authorities with civilians fleeing the city, when they were separated from the crowd and placed “in a separate vehicle” belonging to Syrian government forces, according to ETHA. 

“The disappearance of Eva Maria Michelmann and Ahmed Polad in Raqqa raises serious concerns about the safety of journalists working in Syria,” said Joud Hasan, CPJ’s Levant Program Coordinator. “Syrian authorities must urgently shed light on what has happened to the journalists, including whether they have been detained, and guarantee their safety.”

Serpil Arslan, editor-in-chief of Özgür TV, told CPJ that Polad, who worked as a program producer and reporter while contributing to ETHA, went to Raqqa to cover the fighting in the city, and went missing as the SDF withdrew from the areas and agreed to integrate their forces into Syrian state institutions, allowing Damascus to re-establish control over the city and surrounding areas.

“He attempted to go live, but as the clashes intensified this was not possible. Instead, he sent us video footage,” Arslan said, adding that a few hours later the journalist reported that the building he was in with civilians had been surrounded before communication was cut off.

Toni Michelmann, the German journalist’s brother, also insisted she was detained “by forces of the Syrian transitional government,” telling CPJ that “there has been no sign of life from her” since. 

Arzu Demir, a journalist and member of ETHA’s editorial board who also produces a program for Özgür TV, told CPJ: “Maria had been sending news reports to our agency from Rojava for about four years. For security reasons, we published her reports anonymously.”

“There is a witness statement claiming they were separated from the other people who were under siege in Raqqa and placed into another vehicle,” she added.

Roland Meister, Michelmann’s lawyer, told CPJ that they are in contact with the German government regarding her case, but “have not received any information about her so far.” 

When contacted by messaging app for comment, Omar Haj Ahmed, director general of press affairs at the Syrian Ministry of Information, told CPJ that “the ministry does not have any information about the incident or the individuals, and no one has submitted any request or taken any formal action.” Morhaf al-Hussein, director of the Raqqa Governorate Media Directorate, also told CPJ by WhatsApp, he was following up on the case.