Martin Schibbye: You managed it, Joakim

Inside Istanbul’s large mosque Hagia Sofia, a balustrad rises on the top floor of the southern gallery. On the wall, a Viking carved the text « Halvdan during the 1000s was here » as a kind of then scribble.

I do not know what Joakim Medin has carved into the cell at the Marmara high security prison, which he just left. But I know that he has carved into all of us a message about what journalism should be but too often is not.

I also know that Some of him will always remain in there. Although he is free from the sounds, the fluorescent lights up nights and tonight can look in the starry sky – a tag remains in the meat. A body memory. A scar on the back of the temple.

But there are also with us who have followed every news that would be the unborn child Esmes heartbeat. We also have somewhat after these fifty days of skinless compassion.

We have learned to fight for the imprisoned, as one. That an attack on a journalist is an attack on us all. It was words that led Joakim to prison but it was also words that made him free.

Whatever happens for the rest of our lives, we must never forget this: this extraordinary sense of solidarity. We managed it

We have this cold spring seen a growing movement in Sweden where people have stood up for freedom of the press. And whatever happens for the rest of our lives, we must never forget this: this extraordinary sense of solidarity. We managed it.

Representatives for Governments will always say that you should not always speak clear language. That freedom of the press must be balanced against other values ​​such as stability, economic growth and regional balance of power.

But this approach was challenged by Joakim Medin’s Turkish lawyers. They did not pray and pray. Instead, they sued the Turkish state in the country’s Constitutional Court. The accused Turkey of serious violations of media’s human rights and demanded his immediate release and five million lira in damages.

They knew something that We can only imagine. That in a situation when the free word is imprisoned, there is nothing to speak quietly. Because we must never forget that it is an international scandal that a state has prosecuted a Swedish journalist for doing his job. For interviewing a party in a conflict.

What happened in Istanbul was a warning shot. Next time it may be sharp.

Then we will be ready.

Now a big one awaits Media offering and a huge interest in Joakim Medin and I know he will manage it well and also talk about those who remain. About what we have in front of us. About what he has seen and can now testify. Now, when he comes home, the silence will come to an end.

A short time ago, the very word « freedom » was somewhat extraterrestrial. The human body is too good at adapting to bizarre situations. But now you’re free, Joakim. Fill your lungs with fresh air. Run, run straight ahead without being met by a wall.

Spend time with yours closely. If there is something positive about this, it is that it has shown the strength of your wife. Now rest in her arms.

You managed it.

Now you don’t have to be strong anymore.

« Joakim was here ».

Read Martin Schibbye’s previous articles in DN about Joakim Medin:
That’s why I’m not worried about Joakim Medin
Right today, Joakim Medin is strong