Swedish journalist Joakim Medin, who was sentenced to 11 months and 20 days in prison for allegedly insulting the Turkish president, shared a handwritten message from Silivri High Security Prison in Istanbul on Tuesday after the court ordered his release in that case.
“Today, we won a war. One war remains,” Medin wrote. “I now believe more strongly that I will soon return home and continue my work where I left off.”
Despite the release order, Medin remains in detention due to a separate ongoing investigation in which he faces charges of “membership in an armed organization.” His message, dated April 30, 2025, indicated that his legal struggles are not yet over.
In the note, Medin reaffirmed his commitment to journalism: “I believe more than ever that I will soon return home and continue my work from where I left off!”
Medin, who has reported extensively on Kurdish issues, press freedom, and conflict in the Middle East, was arrested in Turkey amid a broader crackdown on journalists, activists, and opposition voices. Turkish authorities frequently charge reporters under laws relating to national security or terrorism, a practice that has drawn widespread criticism from international human rights organizations and the European Union.
Medin’s continued detention under the separate terrorism-related investigation has raised concerns among press freedom groups. He has stated that he will continue to defend his journalistic work throughout the legal process.
