18/10/2004 (Agence Europe) - European Parliament President Josep Borrell approached the Turkish authorities last Friday immediately after learning that Mehdi Zana, who was returning from Brussels with his wife, Leyla, EP Sakharov Prizewinner, had been detained on arriving at the Istanbul airport (see EUROPE of 14 October, p.6). Held over for the night, Mr Zana was released after a decision in his favour from the court in Istanbul. Mr Borrell welcomes this in a press release, recalling that, as a guest of honour at the EP on the eve of the arrest, Mehdi Zana trod on Turkish soil for the first time after nine years of exile. The Court decided that the charges weighing on Medhi Zana in the past had no reason to remain and that he was now a free man, Mr Borrell said.