In Istanbul, Turkish officials reported on Sunday that a Swedish journalist, Joakim Medin, has been detained under allegations of terrorism and defaming the president. Medin, who writes for the daily Dagens ETC, was apprehended upon his arrival at Istanbul Airport on Thursday and consequently arrested the following day. The charges against him include “membership in a terrorist organization” and “insulting the president.”
The Turkish Presidency’s Communications Department’s Counter Disinformation Center issued a statement clarifying that Medin’s detention is unrelated to his journalism endeavors. The center alleged that Medin participated in a demonstration in Stockholm on January 11, 2023, which was attended by followers of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK). This protest exhibited an effigy of the Turkish President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
The PKK has been engaged in a 40-year conflict with Turkey, resulting in numerous casualties. It is labeled as a terrorist organization by both Ankara and its Western partners. A peace dialogue between the Turkish government and the PKK began in October, and the group announced a ceasefire in early March, following the instructions of its jailed leader, Abdullah Ocalan.
After the Stockholm demonstration in January, the Ankara Public Prosecutors Office initiated an investigation two days later. This probe identified 15 individuals, including Medin, believed to have organized, participated in, or reported on the event, as stated by the Counter Disinformation Center. The center further noted Medin’s involvement in facilitating communications between the PKK and the media.
In recent weeks, over a dozen journalists have faced detainment in Turkey. This is part of a broader crackdown on media professionals reporting on what are the most substantial protests Turkey has seen in more than a decade.