Swedish journalist Joakim Medin has been imprisoned in Turkey following his arrest on Thursday, March 27, shortly after arriving in Istanbul to cover the ongoing protests sparked by the recent arrest of opposition mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu.
According to Dagens ETC, the newspaper that sent him to Turkey, Medin was detained immediately upon arrival and is now held in Maltepe Prison in Istanbul. Turkish authorities accuse him of insulting President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and being a member of a terrorist organization, with the charges reportedly linked to a controversial demonstration held in Stockholm in January 2023.
The 2023 Stockholm protest: a flashpoint revisited
The Turkish prosecutor’s office claims the charges stem from Medin’s alleged involvement in a protest outside Stockholm City Hall, where a doll resembling Erdoğan was hung from a lamppost—a symbolic act that provoked strong condemnation from Ankara. Turkish authorities allege Medin is among 15 individuals involved in orchestrating or promoting that demonstration.
Medin, a freelance foreign correspondent with a focus on the Middle East and far-right extremism, was previously detained in Syria in 2015 while reporting from Kurdish regions. He is also the author of several books, including a 2016 work on the Kurdish fight against ISIS and a 2018 investigation into Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán.
A day of silence and growing concern
Before his disappearance, Medin managed to send a brief message to his editors: “They’re picking me up for questioning now.” That was the last time anyone heard from him until more than 24 hours later.
“It is serious that journalist Joakim Medin has been detained in connection with his entry into Turkey,” said Swedish Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard (Moderaterna) in a statement to TT. “We have had contact with Turkey’s ambassador in Sweden to clarify the allegations and demand swift consular access.”
The Swedish Foreign Ministry confirmed that consular officials have since spoken with Medin and are monitoring his condition. Svante Liljegren, head of the consular unit, told SVT that while details remain confidential, “he is doing well under the circumstances.”
International condemnation: a threat to press freedom
The arrest has sparked widespread international condemnation from press freedom groups and human rights organizations.
Reporters Without Borders Sweden called the incident “an indefensible attack on those trying to report the truth.” Its chairman, Erik Larsson, emphasized, “This is an attack not only on Joakim Medin, but on all of us. We have the right to know what is happening in Turkey.”
Amnesty International Sweden also condemned the arrest, with Secretary General Anna Johansson warning, “The threat to journalists is a threat to freedom of expression and concerns us all.”
The Swedish Newspaper Publishers’ Association and the media advocacy group Utgivarna have both demanded Medin’s immediate release. Utgivarna’s CEO Stefan Eklund stated in a press release: “We strongly condemn all attempts to silence free media in Turkey.”
Mounting diplomatic pressure
The arrest of Medin coincides with the detention of several Turkish journalists amid ongoing protests across Turkey. According to AP, around a dozen local reporters have been arrested following the controversial detention of İstanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu on corruption charges—widely seen as politically motivated due to his position as a leading opposition figure to President Erdoğan, who has been in power for 22 years.
Earlier this week, a BBC journalist was also expelled from Turkey, further escalating concerns about the country’s treatment of foreign media.
The Swedish government now faces growing pressure to intensify its diplomatic response. Johan Taubert, CEO of the Swedish Newspaper Publishers’ Association, urged immediate action: “The government must act sharply and swiftly to ensure Medin’s immediate release. Independent journalism is crucial, and Turkey’s actions threaten that foundation.”
Context and implications
The arrest could further strain Sweden-Turkey relations, already tense due to disagreements over NATO accession and protests targeting Turkish authorities on Swedish soil.
With global eyes now turning to Maltepe Prison and the fate of Joakim Medin, the case is likely to remain a focal point in the broader conversation about press freedom, diplomatic accountability, and authoritarian overreach.
