- Concerns Mount Over Press Freedoms as German Broadcaster Demands Immediate Release of Journalist Alican Uludag
ISTANBUL — The detention of a Turkish journalist working for the German public broadcaster Deutsche Welle (DW) has sparked strong international reactions, raising renewed focus on the importance of media freedom and the rule of law.
Alican Uludag was detained in Ankara on Thursday following accusations related to social media posts, with authorities citing charges of “spreading false news” and “insulting the president,” according to the Istanbul prosecutor’s office.
According to DW and Uludag’s legal representatives, the case against the journalist is connected to his professional work. Attorney Tora Pekin stated that the detention stems from an article Uludag wrote for DW concerning Türkiye’s policies on repatriating Turkish citizens affiliated with the Daesh group. DW further clarified that the charges also reference a post on X from approximately 18 months ago, in which Uludag criticized government measures he alleged led to the release of suspected individuals.
The arrest, described by DW as involving a large police presence and a search of his home, has been met with swift condemnation from media watchdog groups and international broadcasters.
“This arrest is part of a troubling pattern of judicial harassment against serious journalists,” said Erol Onderoglu, a representative of Reporters Without Borders (RSF). The organization denounced what it views as arbitrary practices targeting a journalist whose investigations may have unsettled the authorities.
Deutsche Welle Director General Barbara Massing has issued a firm demand for Uludag’s immediate release, characterizing the heavy-handed detention as targeted intimidation. “Treating a journalist like a common criminal, with a massive police operation and immediate transfer to Istanbul, shows a severe crackdown on press freedom,” Massing stated.
Uludag was scheduled to appear before prosecutors in Istanbul on Friday as the legal process moves forward. The international community now watches closely, hoping for a swift resolution that upholds democratic principles and protects the fundamental right to a free press.
BY: The Times Union
