Martin Schibbye that Joakim Medin is being charged in Turkey

« Jusqu’ici, tout va bien. » So far everything is going well. The words are whispered as a mantra at the beginning of the French suburban film « while we fall », where a man falls free from the 50th floor. But that is not the case that counts. It’s the landing.

I haven’t thought about that scene since I was prosecuted myself. But now I see the headlines: Swedish journalist charged with terrorist offenses, and I think it’s good – the gloves are thrown. Now there are shiny blades.

Not knowing what is going to happen, that officiously is forced to weigh every word in the hope of a back way out, the thoughts distort. It’s worse. Now there is at least something to relate to

The uncertainty, the most degrading of emotions, is replaced by Cold Facts. Not knowing what is going to happen, that officiously is forced to weigh every word in the hope of a back way out, the thoughts distort. It’s worse. Now there is at least something to relate to.

It is now not only Joakim Medin who is charged. It’s journalism.

I remember when The Ethiopian judges explained that I was no longer just suspected, but charged with terrorism. I remember saying: You understand that you have just created a world news? Soon it will be teeming with journalists in Addis Ababa. The judge leaned back, drummed with his fingers on the law book and smiled: « Let them come. »

When we were then taken to the trial and saw the parking lot filled with diplomats and reporters, I sang loudly: « Right now I am strong … » Because we were not forgotten. Ambassador Odlander’s barefoot diplomacy with handwritten notes in the embassies’ mailboxes had worked. The world joined.

The only thing that is worse than being prosecuted is being prosecuted in silence.

On the other side of a judgment one can imagine a solution where everyone can keep the face

That it now looks Out to become an open trial in Turkey where journalists, organizations and embassies can attend are good news. It is difficult to evaluate a quick prosecution in a legal system like Turkish – but getting through it is a way to get out. On the other side, a judgment can be seen a solution where everyone can keep their face.

According to Joakim’s lawyers, there are no concrete or convincing evidence for the allegations of insult or terrorist connection in the material they have seen.

What is invoked as a crime is journalism.

It is an absurd accusation and it is now much more than Joakim’s freedom that is at stake. It is our right to know what is happening in Turkey that is at stake.

The defense of free journalism is winged globally. Countries have learned that it is a cheap form of censorship to imprison the messenger to silence critical messages

But not just in Turkey. The world today is different from the one I was imprisoned in. The defense for free journalism is winged globally. Countries have learned that it is a cheap form of censorship to imprison the messenger to silence critical messages.

The Swedish diplomats, Our prime minister and all of us who call us colleagues – what we do now will determine how this story ends.

For the most dangerous thing is not to fall free. The most dangerous thing is falling on the day the world stops watching. When we stop caring. When we get used to the injustice, the censorship, the arbitrariness. The prison.

As long as we look and react, Joakim will land on our feet.

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