Deutsche Welle Journalist Released After Months in Turkish Detention

A Turkish court has ordered the release of Deutsche Welle journalist Alican Uludağ after nearly three months in pre-trial detention, in a case that drew international criticism and renewed concerns over press freedom in Türkiye.

Uludağ, a court reporter for Germany’s international broadcaster Deutsche Welle (DW), had been detained in February following an investigation linked to several posts on the social media platform X. Turkish prosecutors accused him of insulting President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, spreading misleading information, and denigrating the state. The journalist denied all accusations and argued that his posts fell within the scope of legitimate journalistic criticism and commentary.

The court’s decision to release Uludağ came during his first hearing before the Ankara 57th Criminal Court of First Instance. He participated in the proceedings via video link from Istanbul’s Silivri prison complex, where he had been held since February. Despite the release order, the case against him remains active, and legal proceedings are expected to continue.

Following the ruling, Uludağ told journalists that attention should remain focused on other imprisoned media workers in Türkiye. “Only when all imprisoned journalists have been released will we be happy,” he said after leaving custody.

The arrest and prosecution sparked condemnation from press freedom groups, European officials, and the German government. Germany previously called for Uludağ’s immediate release, arguing that journalism should not be treated as a criminal offense. Deutsche Welle described the detention as an attempt to intimidate independent reporting, while organizations including Amnesty International and Reporters Without Borders criticized the case as part of broader pressure on Turkish media.

Uludağ is known in Türkiye for his reporting on the judiciary, corruption investigations, and human rights cases. He previously worked as a court reporter for the newspaper Cumhuriyet before joining DW Turkish in 2021. Over the years, he has received several journalism awards, including the Raif Badawi Award for Courageous Journalists.

The case has once again highlighted concerns about freedom of expression and media independence in Türkiye, where journalists continue to face arrests, prosecutions, and legal pressure under laws related to terrorism, disinformation, and insulting state officials. According to Reporters Without Borders, Türkiye remains one of the world’s lowest-ranked countries in its global Press Freedom Index.

Reference –

https://www.yahoo.com/news/world/articles/deutsche-welle-reporter-freed-turkey-195526724.html

https://gna.org.gh/2026/05/german-reporter-released-in-turkiye/