Lawyers for Swedish journalist Joakim Medin, who was arrested in Istanbul on March 28, say he is in good condition and in good spirits while being held at Maltepe Prison.
Attorneys from the Media and Law Studies Association (MLSA) Legal Unit, reported that Medin’s health is stable and his morale is high.
Lawyers said he is being held in a solitary cell and was not provided food during his detention. Aside from that, Medin reportedly has no other complaints.
According to the lawyers, Medin will remain in solitary confinement until after the Eid holiday. They added that they have only recently obtained detailed information about the investigation and will share updates in the coming days. The lawyers also announced that they plan to appeal Medin’s detention.
What happened?
Swedish newspaper Dagens ETC reported on March 28 that its foreign correspondent Joakim Medin was arrested at Istanbul Airport.
According to Turkey’s state-run Anadolu Agency, Medin was taken into custody as part of an investigation by the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office on charges of “insulting the president” and “being a member of an armed terrorist organization.” The investigation stems from a protest in Stockholm on Jan. 11, 2023, where an effigy of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan was displayed. Medin is suspected of having ties to those who organized or publicized the event.
Swedish Foreign Ministry responds
Sweden’s Foreign Ministry confirmed that it has been in contact with Medin and that the Consulate General in Istanbul is in communication with local authorities. Swedish Foreign Minister Maria M Stenergard wrote on her X account, “We always take the deprivation of journalists’ freedom seriously.”
