Swedish journalist convicted in Turkey over Erdogan insult
Joakim Medin, a Swedish journalist, has been sentenced by a Turkish court to 11 months and 20 days in prison for insulting President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Medin remains in custody due to additional charges of membership in a terrorist organisation.
A court in Ankara delivered a guilty verdict for the Swedish journalist Joakim Medin, who was accused of insulting Turkey's President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The sentence is 11 months and 20 days in prison. Medin, who participated in the hearing via video link from Marmara Prison in Istanbul, maintained his innocence.
Medin shared that he had previously been imprisoned, spending eight days in detention under Bashar al-Assad's regime in Syria—an experience he described as extremely difficult. He expressed confidence that the Turkish judicial system would recognise his innocence and ultimately release him.
Charges of membership in a terrorist organisation
Medin remains in prison as he also faces charges of belonging to a terrorist organisation. The date for the first hearing in this case has not been set yet.
The journalist was detained in March at Istanbul airport, where he arrived to cover protests following the arrest of the former mayor of Istanbul, Ekrem Imamoglu.
Controversy surrounding the detention
Medin's detention occurred as part of an investigation into a protest in Stockholm in January 2023, during which a puppet resembling Erdogan was hung outside the town hall. Turkish authorities claim that Medin was one of 15 people identified as participants in this event. Both the journalist and his editorial team reject these allegations, emphasising that Medin was fulfilling his professional duties.
The hearing was attended by Swedish MEP Jonas Sjostedt, Swedish parliament member Ulrika Westerlund, Martin Roux from Reporters Without Borders, and the Swedish ambassador to Turkey, Malena Mard.
