8 hours agoThe arrest of Swedish journalist Turkey issues charges of terrorism and says it has “used” Erdogan
Periskopi(a year ago)
(a year ago)A Swedish journalist who was detained as soon as he arrived in Turkey to cover protests against the detention of Istanbul's mayor has been arrested on terrorism-related charges and on <x0-seating of President”, the Turkish presidency said. Joachim Medin, who works for the Dagens ETC newspaper, “has been arrested on charges of membership in an organisation [...]
Joachim Medin, who works for the Dagens ETC newspaper, “has been arrested on charges of membership in an armed terrorist organisation and the arrest of President”, the presidency said Sunday, The Guardian.
Meddin was detained Thursday when his plane landed in Turkey and was sent to prison the following day.
In a bulletin published by its “centre for fighting deinformation”, the presidency said Medin was “known for the news against Turkey and its proximity to the terrorist PKK”, the banned Kurdish militant group.
This arrest decision has absolutely nothing to do with journalistic activities”, she added.
The editor-in-chief of the paper, Andreas Gustavsson, described the allegations as “absurde”, telling the AFP news agency that “the training of journalism should not be a crime”.
Swedish Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard told the public radio that his case is “the absolute priorities” and vowed to discuss it with her Turkish counterpart.
Medin's prison took place only hours after authorities freed the last of 11 journalists arrested in Monday morning's raids on coverage of the protests, including AFP photographer Yasin Akgul. He was released Thursday.
Turkish authorities also expelled BBC journalist Mark Lowen, who had covered the protests after holding it for 17 hours Wednesday, saying it constituted “threat to public order”, the broadcaster said.
The Turkish Communications Directorate said Lowen had been expelled “due to a lack of accredition”.
Turkish prosecutors opened an investigation into Med in 2023 for a protest in which he participated in Stockholm, where a puppet of President Recep Tayip Erdogan was hanged by his feet, according to Sunday's presidency statement.
She said that Swedish journalist was among 15 suspects believed to have participated, organised or promoted the demonstration.
The protest angered Turkish authorities, who claimed it was orchestrated by PKK members and summoned the Swedish ambassador to Ankara.
