Interrogated by police – using Google Translate • Prosecution may take for several years
Swedish journalist Joakim Medin has been imprisoned in Turkey accused of terrorist crimes and for insulting President Erdogan.
Turkish press freedom lawyer Veysel OK, who works with the association MLSA, believes that Medin has had its constitutional rights offended. 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 the lawyer, says the lawyer and continues:
– 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 that lawyer speaks English or not.
MLSA has appealed
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 of Justice.
Lawyers from MLSA have met Medin on two occasions. Partly on the detention and partly at the High Security Prison Marmara outside Istanbul, where he is now sitting. Veysel OK says that Medin is in good courage.
The Swedish journalist has not yet been prosecuted for any crime – and it may be delayed, explains the lawyer.
– There is no time limit for prosecution. Many are imprisoned for years in Turkey, without either prosecution or trial.
Would monitor democracy protests
Medin traveled to Turkey to monitor the democracy protests in the country on behalf of the newspaper, which erupted after the opposition’s foremost candidate, Istanbul’s mayor Ekrem Imamoglu was imprisoned.
About ten journalists have been arrested over the past two weeks, in connection with the demonstrations.
Veysel OK believes that it is not about breaking the law, but about politics.
– It’s not legal how they grabbed him. The Constitution protects freedom of the press and it protects journalists working in the region. But unfortunately, Turkish politics has become increasingly authoritarian and they use this power against the journalists, says Veysel OK.