Swedish Journalist Arrested in Turkey Amid Unrest Over Erdogan Rival's Arrest
Reporter
March 31, 2025 | 04:01 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - A Swedish journalist, detained upon arrival in Turkey while covering protests against Istanbul's mayor's imprisonment, has been arrested on charges of terrorism and insulting the president, the Turkish presidential office confirmed on Sunday.
Joakim Medin, who works for the newspaper Dagens ETC, "has been arrested on charges of 'membership in an armed terrorist organization' and 'insulting the president'," the presidency said in a bulletin as reported by Al Arabiya.
Medin was detained on Thursday when his plane landed in Turkey, said Swedish Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard on social media.
In a bulletin published by the 'Disinformation Fight Center', the Turkish presidency said the journalist is "known for anti-Turkish news and his proximity to the banned Kurdish militant organization PKK."
“This arrest decision has no connection whatsoever to journalistic activities,” it added.
Medin's imprisonment occurred just hours after authorities released the last of 11 detained journalists. They were arrested in dawn raids on Monday for covering protests, including AFP photographer Yasin Akgul.
Turkish authorities have also deported BBC journalist Mark Lowen, who had been covering the protests, after holding him for 17 hours on Wednesday. They said Lowen posed a "threat to public order."
In a statement on Thursday, the Turkish communications directorate said Lowen was deported "due to lack of accreditation."
As reported by Euronews, Istanbul's mayor and presidential candidate from the Republican People's Party (CHP), Ekrem Imamoglu, is being held in Istanbul's Marmara Prison. He was arrested on March 19 on charges of corruption and links to terrorist organizations, and was imprisoned a few days later.
The arrest of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's strongest political rival has triggered widespread protests in Istanbul and across Turkey, marking the most significant social unrest in over a decade.
Police have used pepper spray, tear gas, and water cannons to disperse demonstrators.
Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya reported that nearly 1,900 people have been arrested since March 19.
As a key challenger to Erdogan's 22-year rule, the Istanbul mayor's detention is widely viewed as politically motivated. However, the Turkish government maintains that the judiciary operates independently and without political interference.
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