Latest news with #Medin
Japan Today
17-05-2025
- Politics
- Japan Today
Turkey frees Swedish journalist who was convicted for insulting President Erdogan
Swedish journalist Joakim Medin with his wife journalist Sofie Axelsson attends a press conference in Stockholm, Sweden, Saturday May 17, 2025. (Oscar Olsson/TT via AP) A Swedish journalist arrested in Turkey in March when he traveled there to cover nationwide protests was released and returned home to Sweden on Saturday. Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson wrote on X that 'hard work in relative silence has paid off' and that Joakim Medin's release was due to intensive lobbying by the Swedish foreign ministry and European colleagues. 'Welcome home Joakim!' Kristersson wrote on X. Last month, a Turkish court had convicted Medin of insulting President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Medin was given an 11-month suspended prison term, but initial reports said he would remain in custody awaiting the outcome of a separate trial on terrorism-related charges. Medin, a journalist with the daily Dagens ETC, was detained March 27 as he arrived at Istanbul airport to cover last month's nationwide protests following the arrest of Istanbul's popular mayor, Ekrem Imamoglu. The journalist was jailed days later on charges of insulting Erdogan and membership of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party, or PKK. Swedish media reported that Medin landed early Saturday at Stockholm airport, where he was welcomed by his wife and the Swedish Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard. 'All is well after all. I'm really tired in body and mind. But I feel good,' he said, according to Dagens ETC. 'The pressure on my chest disappeared as soon as we lifted off the ground and we started heading home.' Medin also said later on Saturday that 'I've been thinking from day one about what to say at this moment. Long live freedom: freedom of the press, freedom of speech and freedom of movement," Sveriges Television reported. Medin said that he spent his prison time in solitary confinement in a ward for political prisoners. He said that he had not been subjected to violence, but that the isolation took its toll. Kristersson said on X that 'it is well known that Sweden and Turkey have different views on quite a few and big things. But we have also developed a climate of cooperation that allows us to discuss quite difficult issues.' Local media reported that while Medin's separate trial on terrorism charges would still take place, he would not be required to attend it. © Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
Toronto Sun
17-05-2025
- Politics
- Toronto Sun
Turkey frees a Swedish journalist who was convicted for insulting President Erdogan
Published May 17, 2025 • 2 minute read Swedish journalist Joakim Medin with his wife journalist Sofie Axelsson attends a press conference in Stockholm, Sweden, Saturday May 17, 2025. Photo by Oscar Olsson / AP STOCKHOLM (AP) — A Swedish journalist arrested in Turkey in March when he traveled there to cover nationwide protests was released and returned home to Sweden on Saturday. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson wrote on X that 'hard work in relative silence has paid off' and that Joakim Medin's release was due to intensive lobbying by the Swedish foreign ministry and European colleagues. 'Welcome home Joakim!' Kristersson wrote on X. Last month, a Turkish court had convicted Medin of insulting President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Medin was given an 11-month suspended prison term, but initial reports said he would remain in custody awaiting the outcome of a separate trial on terrorism-related charges. Medin, a journalist with the daily Dagens ETC, was detained March 27 as he arrived at Istanbul airport to cover last month's nationwide protests following the arrest of Istanbul's popular mayor, Ekrem Imamoglu. The journalist was jailed days later on charges of insulting Erdogan and membership of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party, or PKK. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Swedish media reported that Medin landed early Saturday at Stockholm airport, where he was welcomed by his wife and the Swedish Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard. 'All is well after all. I'm really tired in body and mind. But I feel good,' he said, according to Dagens ETC. 'The pressure on my chest disappeared as soon as we lifted off the ground and we started heading home.' Medin also said later on Saturday that 'I've been thinking from day one about what to say at this moment. Long live freedom: freedom of the press, freedom of speech and freedom of movement,' Sveriges Television reported. Medin said that he spent his prison time in solitary confinement in a ward for political prisoners. He said that he had not been subjected to violence, but that the isolation took its toll. Kristersson said on X that 'it is well known that Sweden and Turkey have different views on quite a few and big things. But we have also developed a climate of cooperation that allows us to discuss quite difficult issues.' Local media reported that while Medin's separate trial on terrorism charges would still take place, he would not be required to attend it. Toronto Maple Leafs Sunshine Girls Columnists Golf World
Indian Express
17-05-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Turkey frees a Swedish journalist who was convicted for insulting President Erdogan
A Swedish journalist arrested in Turkey in March when he traveled there to cover nationwide protests was released and returned home to Sweden on Saturday. Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson wrote on X that 'hard work in relative silence has paid off' and that Joakim Medin's release was due to intensive lobbying by the Swedish foreign ministry and European colleagues.'Welcome home Joakim!' Kristersson wrote on X. Hårt arbete i relativ tystnad har gett resultat. Den svenske journalisten Joakim Medin är på väg från Turkiet hem till Sverige. Han landar om några timmar. Jag vill säga tack till de medarbetare på UD som, under utrikesminister Maria Malmer Stenergards ledning, har jobbat… — Ulf Kristersson (@SwedishPM) May 16, 2025 Last month, a Turkish court had convicted Medin of insulting President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Medin was given an 11-month suspended prison term, but initial reports said he would remain in custody awaiting the outcome of a separate trial on terrorism-related charges. Medin, a journalist with the daily Dagens ETC, was detained March 27 as he arrived at Istanbul airport to cover last month's nationwide protests following the arrest of Istanbul's popular mayor, Ekrem Imamoglu. The journalist was jailed days later on charges of insulting Erdogan and membership of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party, or PKK. Swedish media reported that Medin landed early Saturday at Stockholm airport, where he was welcomed by his wife and the Swedish Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard.'All is well after all. I'm really tired in body and mind. But I feel good,' he said, according to Dagens ETC. 'The pressure on my chest disappeared as soon as we lifted off the ground and we started heading home.'Medin also said later on Saturday that 'I've been thinking from day one about what to say at this moment. Long live freedom: freedom of the press, freedom of speech and freedom of movement,' Sveriges Television reported. Medin said that he spent his prison time in solitary confinement in a ward for political prisoners. He said that he had not been subjected to violence, but that the isolation took its toll. Kristersson said on X that 'it is well known that Sweden and Turkey have different views on quite a few and big things. But we have also developed a climate of cooperation that allows us to discuss quite difficult issues.'Local media reported that while Medin's separate trial on terrorism charges would still take place, he would not be required to attend it.
San Francisco Chronicle
17-05-2025
- Politics
- San Francisco Chronicle
Turkey frees a Swedish journalist who was convicted for insulting President Erdogan
STOCKHOLM (AP) — A Swedish journalist arrested in Turkey in March when he traveled there to cover nationwide protests was released and returned home to Sweden on Saturday. Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson wrote on X that 'hard work in relative silence has paid off' and that Joakim Medin's release was due to intensive lobbying by the Swedish foreign ministry and European colleagues. 'Welcome home Joakim!' Kristersson wrote on X. Last month, a Turkish court had convicted Medin of insulting President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Medin was given an 11-month suspended prison term, but initial reports said he would remain in custody awaiting the outcome of a separate trial on terrorism-related charges. Medin, a journalist with the daily Dagens ETC, was detained March 27 as he arrived at Istanbul airport to cover last month's nationwide protests following the arrest of Istanbul's popular mayor, Ekrem Imamoglu. The journalist was jailed days later on charges of insulting Erdogan and membership of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party, or PKK. Swedish media reported that Medin landed early Saturday at Stockholm airport, where he was welcomed by his wife and the Swedish Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard. 'All is well after all. I'm really tired in body and mind. But I feel good,' he said, according to Dagens ETC. 'The pressure on my chest disappeared as soon as we lifted off the ground and we started heading home.' Medin also said later on Saturday that 'I've been thinking from day one about what to say at this moment. Long live freedom: freedom of the press, freedom of speech and freedom of movement," Sveriges Television reported. Medin said that he spent his prison time in solitary confinement in a ward for political prisoners. He said that he had not been subjected to violence, but that the isolation took its toll. Kristersson said on X that 'it is well known that Sweden and Turkey have different views on quite a few and big things. But we have also developed a climate of cooperation that allows us to discuss quite difficult issues.'
Local Sweden
17-05-2025
- Politics
- Local Sweden
Swedish journalist freed from Turkey hails freedom
A Swedish journalist jailed in Turkey for nearly two months on a charge of "insulting" President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Saturday hailed his freedom after being released and returning home. Advertisement "I have been thinking about what I should say at this moment and it is: 'Long live freedom, the freedom of the press, the freedom of expression, and the freedom of movement'," Joakim Medin told a press conference in Stockholm. Medin, a 40-year-old reporter working for the Dagens ETC daily, was released from the high-security Silivri prison and flew back to Sweden on Friday. The journalist had been arrested on March 27 when he arrived in Istanbul to cover the biggest street demonstrations Turkey had seen in over a decade. The protests were sparked when Erdogan's chief political rival, Istanbul mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, was arrested a week earlier on corruption charges he strongly denied. Last month, Medin was convicted and given an 11-month suspended sentence, but remained behind bars pending a further trial on a charge of belonging to a terror organisation. He also denies that allegation. Medin appeared in the Stockholm press conference alongside his wife, Sofie Axelsson, also a journalist. Advertisement He said he thought that Axelsson's pregnancy with their first child, as well as the political context in Turkey might have played a role in him being released. "It is obviously no coincidence, probably, that I was released... the same day as many Kurdish prisoners were also released in Turkey. And the same day as our foreign minister met the Turkish foreign minister at the NATO meeting in Antalya," he said. Earlier Saturday, the Swedish foreign minister, Maria Malmer Sternergard, had stressed that the government had not made any compromises to Turkey to secure Medin's release.
