Israel releases Turkish national accused of 'espionage'

By Anees Barghouti and Hatice Kesgin

ANKARA (AA) - Orhan Buyruk, a Turkish national arrested late last month at Israel's Ben Gurion Airport for suspected "espionage", was released by Israeli authorities on Wednesday, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said Wednesday.

In a tweet, Cavusoglu confirmed that Buyruk -- arrested on Sept. 28 -- had been released from Israeli police custody.

"Buyruk… was released a little while ago. We send our best wishes to him and his family," the foreign minister tweeted.

Buyruk had travelled to Israel late last month to visit Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa Mosque as part of a pilgrimage tour.

He was detained upon his arrival at Ben Gurion Airport, however, reportedly on suspicion that he was a spy.

"It was very difficult. Most of the time [in Israeli custody] I stayed alone in a two-meter-high cell," Buyruk told Anadolu Agency upon his arrival on Wednesday at Istanbul’s Sabiha Gokcen Airport.

According to Buyruk, the Israeli authorities detained him without providing any evidence of their allegations.

"I was interrogated by them for my alleged involvement in international espionage in the absence of any proof," he said.

Buyruk plans to soon hold a press conference at which he says he will provide details about his 20-day stint in Israeli custody.