Vice Journalists Released from Prison Following Terrorism Charges in Turkey

After two British journalists working for Vice News were captured last week in Turkey and charged with "aiding a terrorist organization," it's being reported that they were released and are back in the United Kingdom. The Huffington Post reports that Vice Media has confirmed the release, stating that both Jake Hanrahan and Philip Pendlebury are out of prison but their Iraqi translator, Mohammed Ismael Rasool "remains in custody."

Vice released a statement reading, "While we are grateful that they have been freed, we are deeply worried by reports that our other VICE News colleague, Mohammed Ismael Rasool, has had his appeal of release rejected by the Turkish government."

It further calls upon the Turkish authorities "for a swift end" to the imprisonment, which they call "unjust."

The journalists' being held as prisoners came as the group was reporting on the tensions in the city of Diyarbakir between the police and youths. They were reportedly arrested for not having sufficient government identification.

After their release, Hanrahan posted a story to Vice.com calling for the release of Rasool. The story kicked off the hashtag #FreeRasool.

For more about what occurred between the three journalists, head on over to Vice.