Swedish journalist Joakim Medin, who was arrested in Istanbul on charges of “insulting the President” and “membership in a terrorist organization”, was released by Istanbul 13th High Criminal Court after 49 days. Medin reportedly left Turkey after his release.
Medin, a foreign correspondent for the Swedish newspaper Dagens ETC, had arrived in Istanbul on March 27 to cover the protests and was detained at Istanbul Airport. The reason for his detention was his coverage of the protests in Stockholm in January 2023, in which a model representing Erdoğan was hung up.
In the first hearing of the insulting the President case on April 30, he was sentenced to 11 months and 20 days in prison and released, but his detention on charges of “membership in a terrorist organization” continued.
Ankara 17th High Criminal Court ruled that the case lacked jurisdiction and sent the file to Istanbul. Istanbul 13th High Criminal Court accepted MLSA’s release request and Medin was released from Silivri Prison.
The first hearing of the “terrorist organization membership” case against journalist Medin will be held on September 25, 2025.
16.05.2025
Independent Turkish