Swedish Journalist's Detention in Turkey Raises Legal Concerns

When the Swedish journalist Joakim Medin was arrested by Turkish police accused of terrorist crimes, several of his rights were violated. This is what the Turkish press freedom lawyer Veysel Ok tells TV4 News.

» Published: March 31 2025

Swedish Journalist's Detention in Turkey Raises Legal Concerns
Photo: Dagens ETC/Emrah Gurel/AP/TT

Veyesel Ok, who works with the human rights organization MLSA, believes that Medin has had his constitutional rights violated. Among other things, he has received insufficient support to defend himself in English.

The police have tried to talk to him without an interpreter. They have used Google Translate, so he has not been able to defend himself, says Ok to TV4 News.

When he was to present his defense in court, he did not get a defender. They sent a lawyer from another city. He had no opportunity to meet the lawyer and we have no idea if the lawyer speaks English or not, he continues.

On Monday, MLSA officially submitted an appeal regarding the arrest of Joakim Medin. The next step will be an application to the country's constitutional court and to the European Court.

Lawyers from MLSA have met Medin on two occasions. Both at the detention center and at the high-security prison Marmara outside Istanbul, where he is now being held. Veysel Ok reports that Medin is in good spirits.

The Swedish journalist has not yet been charged with any crime.

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By TTThis article has been altered and translated by Sweden Herald

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