Joakim Medin back from Turkish prison – this has happened

Was arrested at the airport

On March 27, 40-year-old Joakim Medin traveled to Istanbul on behalf of today’s etc, to report on the protests that erupted since Istanbul’s mayor Ekrem Imamoglu was arrested. Medin, who has visited Turkey as a journalist several times, was arrested directly at the airport.

It was later revealed that the Swede was suspected of being a member of terrorist -stamped Kurdish PKK, the spread of terrorist propaganda and for insulting President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Shortly after the arrest, he was moved to the Marmara high security prison outside Istanbul, where many of Turkey’s political prisoners sit or have been sitting.

Highest priority

Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard (M) made it clear early on that the case had « highest priority » at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson (M) stated that they worked « intensively » on the issue.

– It is not the one who shouts most that is most successful in this situation. This is very difficult, other countries have also experienced, Kristersson told TT in a first comment a few days after the arrest.

Prosecuted

Despite the intensive diplomatic work that was said to be going on in silent – and which included meetings between Malmer Stenergard and Turkey’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan – on April 23, a prosecution was brought against Medin. The journalist was charged with participation in terrorist organization, dissemination of terrorist propaganda and the insult by the president.

The prosecution showed that the evidence against Medin was his own journalism. It was referred to, among other things, a book he wrote about Kurds in Syria, as well as three news articles published in Dagens ETC 2023. Posts and shares on social media of the articles were also used as evidence.

Sentenced

A week later, the trial was held on the indictment on the insult to the president in a court in Ankara. Joakim Medin was present via link from prison. He denied crime and explained that he only devoted himself to journalistic reporting.

After a short break, the judge announced that Medin was sentenced to conditional sentence for eleven months and seven days.

Released

On May 16, the Swede was suddenly released from the prison and was allowed to return to Sweden. Medin landed at Arlanda shortly after midnight on May 17. Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson announced the release in a post on X, and referred to silent diplomacy and help from European colleagues.

Although Medin has been released, the allegations of terrorist offenses remain that will continue to be tested in Turkey in his absence, according to Dagens ETC.