In a new EFJ “#PressTalks” episode, Swedish foreign reporter Joakim Medin for the newspaper Dagens ETC shares his story as a journalist imprisoned for 51 days in a Turkish prison on terrorism charges.  Joakim is a member of the Swedish Union of Journalists (SJF) and benefitted from strong international support during his detention. This mobilisation certainly played a part in his release, as he was eventually able to return to Sweden on 17 May while awaiting trial, just in time for the birth of his first child. We talked to Joakim as he prepares for his first hearing, scheduled on…

The Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) partners strongly condemned the decision to charge Joakim Medin with terrorism related actions in addition to the insult charges that were used to justify his initial arrest. Medin, whose first court hearing has been scheduled for 30 April, now faces up to twelve years imprisonment if convicted of both indictments. Since 19 March, over 13 journalists have been arrested and charged with different offences, with at least 12 journalists subjected to police violence. The situation has taken an unprecedented turn with Medin’s detention—marking a rare case where a foreign journalist has faced such charges. His treatment, mirroring…

Swedish journalist Joakim Medin, a regular contributor to the Swedish daily newspaper Dagens ETC and member of the Swedish Union of Journalists (SJF), is facing up to 12 years in prison in Turkey for allegedly ‘insulting the President’ and belonging to “a terrorist organisation’. The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) condemned these unfounded accusations, which are used as a recurring tactic to criminalise journalistic activities. The first hearing will take place on 30 April in Ankara. Joakim was detained on 27 March 2025, shortly after landing in Istanbul to cover the widespread protests against the recent arrest of Istanbul Mayor…

Read the statement in turkish The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) joined the partners of the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) in strongly condemning the arrest of Swedish journalist Joakim Medin on terrorism charges in Turkey and calling for his immediate release. This is the latest incident amidst the ongoing crackdown on press freedom in which dozens of journalists have been arrested and beaten. On 27 March 2025, Joakim Medin, a regular contributor to the Swedish daily newspaper Dagens ETC and member of the Swedish Union of Journalists (SJF), was travelling to cover the widespread protests against the recent arrest…

On 30 March, Turkish authorities officially confirmed the arrest of Swedish journalist Joakim Medin upon his arrival in Türkiye. His detention came shortly after British journalist Mark Lowen from the BBC was arrested and deported from Türkiye on 28 March. The International and European Federations of Journalists (IFJ-EFJ) joined the National Union of Journalists (NUJ) in the UK and the Swedish Union of Journalists (SJF) in calling on Turkish authorities to immediately release Joakim Medin and all local and foreign journalists who have been detained. BBC journalist Mark Lowen was detained on 26 March and deported after 17 hours in…

The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) has been producing its own podcast, #PressTalks, since July 2024. #PressTalks features discussions with journalists and media representatives who share their experiences, addressing crucial challenges to press freedom and raising awareness of these issues. The podcast is hosted by Camille Magnissalis, the EFJ’s Press Freedom Monitoring and Communications Officer. The majority of episodes are in English. Episode 10: Interview avec Florence Hainaut: clichés sur la cyberviolence misogyne, son combat judiciaire – YouTube Episode 9: Swedish journalist Joakim Medin shares his story ahead of his trial  (11.10.25) – YouTube and Spotify Episode 8: Media Freedom in…

Joakim Medin, a Swedish freelance journalist arrested by Syrian security forces has been released, on Saturday night, according to the Swedish daily newspaper Expressen, who talked to the journalist. He was arrested by the Syrian forces earlier last week in the Kurdish areas of the country. The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) joins its Swedish affiliate, SJ, to welcome his release. “Our thoughts are with the journalist’s family and I hope that they can be reunited as soon as possible,” said Jonas Nordling, President of the Swedish Union of Journalists, Journalist Förbundet (SJ). “It is becoming increasingly common for journalists being targeted…