Summary
Turkish authorities arrested Swedish journalist Joakim Medin on charges of “membership in an armed terrorist organisation” and “insulting the president” after he arrived to cover protests over Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu’s detention.
The presidency linked Medin to the banned PKK group and a 2023 Stockholm protest involving an effigy of Erdogan.
Medin’s paper called the charges “absurd,” and Sweden’s foreign minister vowed to intervene.
Turkey also deported BBC’s Mark Lowen and released 11 other detained journalists, amid an escalating crackdown on media during nationwide anti-government protests.
“Terrorism” has had a very loose definition in Turkey for years. Pretty much any anti-government activity or criticism can be labelled as such.
Half the nation is a terrorist, I could get arrested for half the things I think in one day