Turkey arrested a US diplomat last month

Turkey arrested an American diplomat accused of an alleged passport handover to a Syrian refugee at the Istanbul airport last month.

Turkish Police officers say the Syrian man whose initials have been identified was allegedly leaving for Germany while using the diplomat’s passport that he allegedly bought.

The American is said to have worked at the US Embassy in Beirut and allegedly had $10,000 when he was arrested. Turkish Police say the two men had changed into each others’ clothes at an airport toilet.

The Syrian man has been released by Turkish authorities on bail, while the American is still in detention. The Department of State is yet to issue a comment on the incident.

The arrest comes as tensions between the US and Turkey remain high over the latter’s human rights record under Erdogan.