Swedish Journalist Joakim Medin Freed from Turkish Detention, Returns Home

May 17, Saturday, Sweden: Joakim Medin, a Swedish journalist detained in Turkey since March 2025 on charges of “insulting the president” and alleged links to terrorism, has been released and is en route to Sweden, according to Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson. The announcement was made on May 16, following extensive diplomatic efforts by Swedish authorities and European allies.

Medin, a reporter for the Swedish newspaper Dagens ETC, was arrested upon arrival in Istanbul on March 27. He had traveled to Turkey to cover protests sparked by the arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, a prominent political figure and rival to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.

Turkish authorities charged Medin with “insulting the president” and “membership in a terrorist organization,” citing his alleged involvement in a 2023 protest in Stockholm where an effigy resembling President Erdoğan was displayed. Medin denied any participation in the protest, stating he was in Germany at the time.

In April, a Turkish court handed Medin an 11-month suspended sentence for insulting the president. However, he remained in custody pending trial on the terrorism-related charge, which could carry a sentence of up to nine years.

Prime Minister Kristersson expressed gratitude to Sweden’s foreign office and European partners for their behind-the-scenes efforts leading to Medin’s release. “Hard work in relative silence has paid off,” Kristersson stated, emphasizing the importance of diplomatic channels in resolving such cases.

Medin’s detention had drawn criticism from press freedom organizations and human rights advocates, who viewed the charges as an infringement on journalistic freedom and freedom of expression. His release is seen as a positive development for press freedom and diplomatic relations between Sweden and Turkey.

As Medin returns home, the case underscores the challenges journalists face in politically sensitive environments and the critical role of international advocacy in upholding press freedoms.

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