MLSA lawyers call for immediate release and 5 million lira in compensation, citing violations of liberty, fair trial, and press freedom
Lawyers for Swedish journalist Joakim Medin have submitted an individual application to Turkey’s Constitutional Court, arguing that his arrest and continued detention violate his rights under both Turkish and international law. The Media and Law Studies Association (MLSA), which is representing Medin, claims the journalist is being prosecuted solely for his professional activities and that he has been denied the right to a fair trial.
Medin, who works as an international correspondent for Sweden’s Dagens ETC and is a member of both the Swedish Union of Journalists and the International Federation of Journalists, was arrested on March 28 in Ankara. He is being held on charges of “membership in an armed terrorist organization,” “spreading terrorist propaganda,” and “insulting the president.”
The first hearing for the “insulting the president” charge will take place on April 30 at the Ankara 79th Criminal Court of First Instance.
Claims of multiple rights violations
In their Constitutional Court application, Medin’s lawyers argue that his detention has violated a range of constitutional and human rights, including the right to liberty and security, the right to a fair trial, freedom of expression and of the press, and the right to privacy and family life.
The petition underscores that Medin was targeted entirely for his journalism. It states that his reporting on sensitive topics — including the Syrian civil war, the Ukraine-Russia conflict, human rights violations in Palestine, and political developments in Turkey — falls squarely within the protections of press freedom.
Arrest at Istanbul Airport and due process concerns
Medin arrived at Istanbul Airport on March 27, 2025, to report on developments in Turkey. He was detained at passport control due to an outstanding arrest warrant. According to the application, he was not provided with a qualified interpreter during his initial detention. His statement was taken using Google Translate, and his right to legal counsel was compromised due to ineffective communication with a court-appointed lawyer.
Following this, Medin was referred to the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office. There, he was questioned via SEGBİS (a video conferencing system used in Turkish courts) with the help of an interpreter whom he reportedly could not understand. Evidence presented to him during the interrogation — including social media posts and photographs — was vague and incomplete, and key images were not included in the official case file, the lawyers claim.
Charges tied to journalism and social media activity
The charges against Medin are largely based on his journalistic work, social media activity, and interviews. The application highlights that a key piece of evidence cited by prosecutors is news coverage of a protest held on January 11, 2023, in Stockholm. During the protest — which included symbols associated with Kurdish groups and a mock effigy of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan hung upside down — demonstrators used PKK and YPG flags.
While prosecutors argue that Medin was connected to this event, his lawyers present travel records proving that he was not in Sweden at the time and had no direct involvement. He did not attend or organize the protest, nor did he publish a report specifically covering it.
The lawyers further note that Medin is being penalized for engaging in legitimate journalism, including interviews with various parties in conflict zones — a standard practice in international reporting.
Violation of fair trial guarantees
The petition emphasizes that Medin has not received the fair trial protections required under Turkish law and the European Convention on Human Rights. It argues that he was denied access to key parts of the case file, had insufficient time and means to prepare his defense, and lacked effective communication with his lawyer.
Despite his pre-trial detention, the Constitutional Court filing states that the evidence has not been fully disclosed and that the defense was prevented from mounting a meaningful rebuttal to the allegations.
Violation of “no punishment without law” principle
Lawyers also argue that the charges violate the principle of nullum crimen, nulla poena sine lege — the idea that no one should be punished under laws that did not clearly criminalize their actions at the time they occurred.
Specifically, the application points out that one photograph cited as evidence of Medin’s supposed ties to YPG/YPJ was taken at a time when these groups were not officially classified as terrorist organizations under Turkish law.
As such, the defense argues that Medin’s actions do not constitute criminal conduct and that charging him retroactively amounts to a violation of Article 38 of the Turkish Constitution and Article 7 of the European Convention on Human Rights.
Chilling effect on press freedom
Medin’s lawyers also warn of broader implications for journalism. They argue that detaining a journalist over their reporting not only violates individual rights but has a chilling effect on the broader media community, particularly those covering politically sensitive issues in Turkey and the Middle East.
They contend that the arrest is intended to intimidate other foreign correspondents and is therefore also a violation of Article 14 of the Constitution and Article 18 of the European Convention on Human Rights, both of which prohibit the abuse of rights for political purposes.
Violation of privacy and family life
The application also cites Medin’s family situation as grounds for his immediate release. His wife, who resides in Sweden, is currently eight months pregnant. Medin’s inability to be present during the birth of their child and to support his wife through this period constitutes a serious infringement on his right to family life, his lawyers argue.
Legal demands: compensation and immediate release
Medin’s legal team is asking the Constitutional Court to rule that his rights under the Constitution and the European Convention on Human Rights have been violated. They are also seeking an end to his detention and demanding 5 million Turkish lira (approximately $155,000) in compensation for the harm caused.
In addition, the petition calls for the Court to issue an urgent interim measure that would lead to Medin’s immediate release pending a final ruling on the matter.
Background
Joakim Medin was detained on March 27, 2025, at Istanbul Airport and arrested the following day based on a 2023 investigation into allegations of “insulting the president” and “membership in a terrorist organization.” Two separate indictments were later issued.
The Ankara 79th Criminal Court of First Instance accepted the indictment related to the insult charge and scheduled the first hearing for April 30, 2025. The terrorism-related indictment is still in the pre-trial stage.
The indictments cite Medin’s journalism — including news articles, social media content, interviews, and books — as evidence of criminal conduct. Prosecutors argue that he showed organizational loyalty and focused disproportionately on a specific region in the Middle East.
MLSA Co-Director and attorney Veysel Ok, who is leading Medin’s defense, said the journalist’s actions fall entirely within the bounds of legitimate journalism and called for his immediate release.
Medin remains in pre-trial detention at Silivri Prison in northwestern Turkey.
