A Swedish journalist, Joakim Medin, was arrested in Turkey on March 27 while covering ongoing protests following the detention and subsequent arrest of Istanbul’s mayor, Ekrem İmamoğlu. Medin was taken into custody at Istanbul Airport and charged the next day with “membership in an armed terrorist organization” and “insulting the president.”
| Swedish journalist Joakim Medin arrested in Turkey amid protests |
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Turkey’s Communications Directorate, a government body responsible for media oversight and countering what it deems disinformation, issued a statement on March 29 asserting that Medin’s arrest was unrelated to his journalistic activities.
The statement, published on X (formerly Twitter), described Medin as a journalist known for his “anti-Turkey reporting” and “connections to the terrorist organization PKK.” The PKK (Kurdistan Workers’ Party) is designated as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the European Union, and the United States. The group has been engaged in an armed conflict against the Turkish state since the 1980s, seeking autonomy for Kurds in Turkey. The group was recently disbanded following a call from its imprisoned leader, Abdullah Öcalan.
The statement further alleged that Medin had participated in a protest in Stockholm on January 11, 2023, where a mock effigy of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan was burned. Turkish prosecutors launched an investigation into the incident two days later, identifying Medin as one of 15 suspects.
Authorities also claimed that Medin had previously acted as a “liaison between the PKK/KCK terrorist organization and the press.” The KCK (Kurdistan Communities Union) is considered by Turkey to be an umbrella organization coordinating various Kurdish groups, including the PKK.
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| Swedish journalist Joakim Medin arrested in Turkey amid protests |
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Swedish newspaper rejects accusations
Medin’s employer, the Swedish newspaper Dagens ETC, dismissed the charges as “absurd.” Editor-in-Chief Andreas Gustavsson told Agence France-Presse (AFP):
“He is just a journalist. Nothing more, nothing less. And journalism should never be a crime.”
Gustavsson stated that efforts were underway to secure Medin’s release. He also revealed that Medin was being held in solitary confinement at Maltepe Prison in Istanbul, though his family had managed to communicate with his lawyer.
Swedish Foreign Minister Maria M. Stenergard confirmed that the Swedish Consulate in Istanbul was in contact with Turkish authorities. Writing on X, she stated:
“We have been in contact with Turkey’s ambassador in Sweden to clarify the charges against Joakim Medin and to demand prompt consular access.”
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Andaç'a abone olun
Editörlerimizin derlediği öngörüler, analizler, Türkiye’yi ve dünyayı şekillendiren haberler, Medyascope’un e-bülteni Andaç‘la her gün mail kutunuzda.
It is serious that journalist Joakim Medin has been deprived of his freedom upon entering Turkey. Joakim is receiving consular support and is in contact with the Consulate General in Istanbul.”
According to Sweden Herald, the Swedish Foreign Ministry has established direct contact with Medin. The news outlet also highlighted Medin’s past experiences as a foreign correspondent. A decade ago, he was detained in Syria by the Assad government and held in solitary confinement for a week after traveling to Kurdish-controlled areas.
| Swedish journalist Joakim Medin arrested in Turkey amid protests |
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Crackdown on foreign journalists in Turkey
Observers note that Medin is the second foreign journalist detained while covering protests related to İmamoğlu’s arrest. On March 26, BBC correspondent Mark Lowen was held for 17 hours before being deported for allegedly posing a “threat to public order.” Turkey’s Communications Directorate stated that Lowen was reporting without proper accreditation.
- BBC reporter Mark Lowen expelled amidst anti-government protests in Turkey
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The arrest of foreign journalists has raised concerns about press freedom in Turkey, which already ranks among the world’s most restrictive countries for media. According to Reporters Without Borders (RSF), Turkey has imprisoned dozens of local journalists in recent years, with many facing terrorism-related charges.
Widespread crackdown on protesters and journalists
Protests erupted after İmamoğlu, a leading opposition figure and mayor of Istanbul, was taken into custody. Over 1,800 demonstrators have reportedly been detained.
The Turkish Journalists’ Union (TGS) reported that at least 13 local and national journalists were arrested while covering the protests. Among them were AFP photographer Yasin Akgül, Now Haber reporter Ali Onur Tosun, and well-known photojournalist Bülent Kılıç. While most have since been released, new detentions continue. On March 28, Evrensel newspaper reporter Nisa Sude Demirel and Etkin News Agency’s Elif Bayburt were also taken into custody, though Demirel was later freed.
Media rights groups, including Turkey’s DİSK Basın-İş union, have condemned the increasing pressure on journalists, citing incidents of police violence. The union reported that during a protest in Istanbul’s Saraçhane district, BirGün newspaper journalist Ebru Çelik and staff member Deniz Güngör were physically assaulted by police while trying to cover the demonstrations.
The Swedish government has not yet indicated whether it will formally protest Medin’s detention. However, press freedom advocates warn that Turkey’s crackdown on both local and foreign journalists is a sign of increasing repression, particularly in the lead-up to the country’s next elections.
