Turkish authorities have detained Alican Uludag, a veteran correspondent for Germany’s international broadcaster Deutsche Welle (DW), in a move that has drawn widespread attention and criticism from media freedom advocates and international observers. Uludag was taken into custody in Ankara on Thursday and later transferred to Istanbul under the authority of the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office, which has launched a criminal investigation against him over his social media activity.
Prosecutors allege that Uludag “publicly disseminated misleading information” and “insulted the president” based on posts on the social media platform X that criticised the Turkish government’s handling of the release of suspected Islamic State militants and included accusations of corruption. He is expected to be brought before prosecutors on Friday.
Deutsche Welle has strongly condemned the detention, with Director General Barbara Massing describing the charges as baseless and the arrest as a deliberate act of intimidation and a serious suppression of press freedom. DW says the allegations stem from a post made about a year and a half ago, and that Uludag’s apartment was searched and his IT equipment was seized by authorities.
According to reports, around 30 police officers arrived at Uludag’s home to detain him, and he was taken in front of his family before being transported to Istanbul for questioning. Massing and press freedom organisations have called for his immediate release, emphasising the journalist’s long-standing work covering human rights, corruption and court proceedings.
The detention has drawn particular attention against the backdrop of broader concerns about media freedom in Turkey, where legal actions against journalists including accusations of spreading misinformation, insulting state institutions or national leaders have increased in recent years. Observers argue such measures can have a chilling effect on independent reporting.
Uludag’s case highlights ongoing tensions over freedom of expression and press independence in Turkey. The response from international media organisations and rights groups underscores the challenges journalists face in navigating legal and political pressures while reporting on sensitive issues within the country.
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