A correspondent for Deutsche Welle (DW) has been arrested in Turkey on accusations of “insulting the president” and “spreading misleading information.”
According to DW, Alican Uludağ was taken into custody by approximately 30 police officers in front of his family. The investigative journalist is scheduled to appear before a judge later today.
Government-Critical Post on X
DW explained that the charges stem from a post made on the platform X approximately a year and a half ago. In the post, Uludağ criticized government actions regarding the release of suspected Islamic State terrorists.
He as well accused the government of corruption in the same post. As a long-time court reporter, Uludağ, according to DW, reports on human rights violations, corruption cases, and trials.
Deutsche Welle: “Baseless Accusations”
DW Director-General Massing described the accusations against Uludağ as baseless. She stated he is “a well-known investigative journalist who researches corruption, is particularly well-connected and has access to key sources.” Massing added that this could make him dangerous from the government’s perspective.
Frequently Asked Questions
What charges does the journalist face?
The journalist faces charges of “insulting the president” and “spreading misleading information.”
How many police officers were involved in the arrest?
Approximately 30 police officers were involved in the arrest of Alican Uludağ.
What is DW’s response to the arrest?
DW’s Director-General Massing described the accusations as baseless and stated that Uludağ is a well-known investigative journalist.
Given the charges and the circumstances of the arrest, what impact might this have on press freedom in Turkey?
