Syrian Government Confirms Detention of German Journalist Eva Maria Michelmann Following Raqqa Military Sweep

Missing German journalist Eva Maria Michelmann is in Syrian custody. Authorities claim she was found in Raqqa and provided a false identity to security forces.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 30, 2026, 1:33 PM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from The Associated Press

The Discovery of Missing Journalists in Raqqa

The Syrian government has broken its silence regarding the disappearance of German national Eva Maria Michelmann, confirming she is currently being held in state custody. According to an official statement from the Information Ministry, the 36-year-old journalist and her Turkish colleague, Ahmed Polad, were located by Interior Ministry forces during a security sweep of Raqqa. The city, which recently saw a takeover by government forces during a campaign against the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces, was reportedly the site of their apprehension. Syrian officials claim the two were discovered within a building previously utilized by the SDF as a specialized security headquarters, a detail the government is using to justify their initial suspicions.

Allegations of False Identity and Espionage

The Syrian administration has leveled serious accusations against the pair, claiming they intentionally obfuscated their professional roles during the initial phase of their detention. According to the Information Ministry, Michelmann and Polad refused to provide valid identification and allegedly claimed to be humanitarian workers affiliated with the United Nations. The ministry asserts that subsequent verification with the UN proved these claims to be false. Government officials further allege that the journalists attempted to escape custody, a move that prompted their re-arrest on suspicions of being foreign combatants present on Syrian soil without legal authorization.

Advocacy Groups Demand Immediate Release

The Committee to Protect Journalists has issued an urgent appeal for the safe release of both Michelmann and Polad, identifying them as legitimate media professionals. According to the CPJ, the two journalists were last seen on January 18 and were known to be working for the Istanbul-based Etkin News Agency and Özgür TV, a broadcaster with operations across several European cities. The CPJ argues that the journalists were performing their professional duties in a conflict zone and that the lack of official Syrian accreditation should not be used as a pretext for criminal prosecution or prolonged detention without trial.