MLSA - Swedish journalist Joakim Medin appeared before a High Criminal Court in Istanbul on Tuesday for the second hearing of his trial on charges of “membership in an armed terrorist organization.” The court postponed the proceedings to May 7, 2026, pending a response from Swedish authorities to a request for judicial assistance.
Medin, who is represented by the Media and Law Studies Association (MLSA), was detained at Istanbul Airport on March 27, 2025, after arriving to cover protests that erupted following the sentencing of Istanbul Mayor and opposition presidential candidate Ekrem İmamoğlu. He was arrested the next day and jailed. Two separate indictments were filed against him—one for “insulting the president” and another for alleged links to a terrorist organization. He was sentenced to 11 months and 20 days in prison for the insult charge. In the terrorism case, he was released after 50 days in pre-trial detention following an objection by MLSA.
The second hearing of the terrorism trial took place at Istanbul’s 13th High Criminal Court. The court ruled to await the outcome of the judicial assistance request sent to Sweden and to clarify the status of digital materials seized during the investigation.
Tuesday’s hearing was attended by Swedish Consul General Karin Hermmarck, Banu Tuna, Secretary General of the Journalists’ Union of Turkey (TGS), and several Swedish media representatives, including journalists James Savage; Johan Taubert from Sveriges Tidskrifter (The Swedish Magazine Publishers Organization); and Victoria da Silva from the Swedish Union of Journalists.
Medin is being tried for his journalistic activities, which Turkish prosecutors claim amount to terrorism-related offenses—an accusation that has drawn criticism from press freedom advocates. MLSA has argued that the charges are politically motivated and part of a broader crackdown on press freedom in Turkey.
The next hearing is scheduled for 10 a.m. on May 7, 2026.
