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April 05, 2025 – Sweden/Turkey –
Swedish journalist Joakim Medin has been released from Turkish custody and returned to Sweden after nearly two months of detention on charges of “insulting the president” and alleged links to terrorism. His release follows sustained diplomatic efforts by Swedish and European officials, highlighting ongoing concerns over press freedom in Turkey.
Medin, a correspondent for Sweden’s Dagens ETC, was arrested on March 27, 2025, upon arrival at Istanbul Airport, where he intended to cover protests sparked by the detention of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu. Turkish authorities accused him of participating in a 2023 Stockholm protest involving a mannequin resembling President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and of having ties to the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), a group designated as a terrorist organization by Turkey and several Western nations.
On April 30, a Turkish court convicted Medin of “insulting the president,” sentencing him to an 11-month suspended prison term. Despite this, he remained in custody pending a separate trial on terrorism-related charges, which could have led to a sentence of up to nine years.
Medin’s detention drew widespread condemnation from international press freedom organizations. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) denounced his arrest as an attempt to intimidate media workers and called for his immediate release.
Following diplomatic negotiations, Medin was released and returned to Sweden on May 17, 2025. Upon arrival in Stockholm, he was welcomed by his wife and Swedish Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard. Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson emphasized the importance of diplomatic engagement in securing Medin’s release, stating that cooperation with Turkey was crucial despite political differences.
Medin’s case underscores the challenges faced by journalists operating in Turkey, where press freedom has been increasingly restricted. His release, while welcomed, highlights the ongoing risks for journalists and the need for continued advocacy for media rights and freedom of expression.
Reference –
Global journalist federations condemn Turkey’s arrest of Swedish reporter
