A Turkish court on Friday sentenced a German man, Patrick K.,  to six years and three months in prison for membership of a terrorist organization. In addition, he received a further suspended sentence of one year and eight months in jail for entering a military exclusion zone, DW reported.

Since last year, a number of German citizens have been detained in Turkey, putting serious strain on relations between Berlin and Ankara.

Patrick K. was arrested near the Turkish-Syrian border on March 14.

Turkish authorities charged him with being a member of the YPG, which Turkey classifies as a terrorist group along with the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK). Local authorities also reportedly said that Patrick K. confessed to wanting to join PYD/YPG and that he'd served for several years in the German military.

Turkish officials have not revealed the circumstances under which Patrick K. confessed, nor have they said if an independent interpreter was present.

His family said that the 29-year-old was in the area to go hiking. At the time of his arrest, the Bundeswehr told DW that Patrick K. was never a member of the German military.

The court hearing on Friday lasted under an hour, according to Patrick K.'s lawyer. His trial only began three weeks ago.