Turkish and International Groups Demand Release of Journalist Alican Uludağ

Media freedom, human rights, and press organisations have jointly called on Turkish authorities to immediately release and drop all charges against prominent journalist Alican Uludağ, after he was detained by state security forces in February 2026. The campaign highlights growing concerns over freedom of expression and judicial harassment in Türkiye.

Uludağ, a veteran correspondent for Germany’s international broadcaster Deutsche Welle (DW), was arrested on February 19, 2026, in Ankara amid an investigation into his social media posts and reporting. Turkish prosecutors accused him of “insulting the president” and disseminating disinformation – charges critics say are politically motivated and aimed at stifling independent journalism. He was transferred to Istanbul for interrogation, had his personal devices seized, and was subsequently placed in pre-trial detention by an Istanbul court.

International organisations, including ARTICLE 19 Europe, the International Press Institute (IPI), the European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF), the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ), the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), and others, have issued a joint statement condemning the detention. They argue that Uludağ’s arrest represents a broader pattern of legal pressure used to silence journalists reporting on matters of public interest. Their appeal demands charges be dropped, detention ended, and the systematic use of Turkey’s criminal defamation and “disinformation” laws against journalists halted.

Colleagues and press rights advocates emphasise that Uludağ is an award-winning journalist with nearly two decades of experience covering court proceedings, human rights violations, and political accountability. They contend that his work, including critical analysis of government decisions and legal rulings, falls squarely within the scope of legitimate journalistic activity. The groups warn that continued prosecution risks chilling independent media and undermining democratic discourse in Türkiye.

Uludağ’s detention has also drawn strong reactions from Deutsche Welle leadership and international observers. DW’s Director General described the arrest as an act of intimidation, while the European Federation of Journalists and its Turkish affiliates have urged judicial authorities to reconsider the detention order and reaffirm protections for press freedom.

The push for Uludağ’s release occurs amid sustained scrutiny of press freedom in Türkiye, where legal and administrative pressures on journalists have increasingly drawn criticism from civil society and foreign governments. Advocates assert that ensuring journalists can operate without fear of prosecution is essential to safeguarding democratic values and the public’s right to information.

Reference –

https://www.article19.org/resources/turkiye-release-journalist-alican-uludag-and-drop-all-charges-against-him/

https://rsf.org/en/t%C3%BCrkiye-deutsche-welle-journalist-alican-uludag-detained-following-scandalous-court-ruling

Turkey: Media freedom, freedom of expression and human rights groups urge authorities to release and drop charges against journalist Alican Uludağ