The Swedish government rejects Turkey's request for legal assistance in the trial against journalist Joakim Medin.
Medin has been charged in Turkey for alleged terrorist crimes.
"It would be contrary to basic Swedish legal principles to contribute to a process that can limit freedom of expression and free and independent journalism," says Justice Minister Gunnar Strömmer (M).
According to him, this decision indirectly concerns all Swedish journalists.
"This is a way to protect the right of every journalist and every citizen to work and express themselves freely."
He was a prisoner.
The previous Medin in spring He was imprisoned for 51 days in Turkey after being arrested when he arrived in the country to cover protests against President Recep Tayyip Erdogan for the newspaper ETC. He was given a suspended sentence for insulting the president and was able to return to Sweden.
However, a new prosecution was brought against him, on charges of belonging to a terrorist organization and spreading terrorist propaganda. Because Medin is in Sweden, Turkey has asked a Swedish court to interrogate him.
“The issue is whether Sweden will allow its courts to become tools of other countries in legal proceedings against Swedish journalists,” says Strömmer.
Postponed
The trial was due to begin in September, but was postponed to January and has now been postponed again to May 7, at the request of Medin's legal representative.
Medin has previously stated that he wants to testify, among other things to learn more about the charges against him. He has also expressed his dissatisfaction with the delay in the government's decision and wants the case to end.
He has also expressed fears that Turkey could issue an international arrest warrant against him if the trial does not take place. This would mean that Medin would risk arrest if he traveled outside the Schengen zone.
"Open the hatches"
"I understand that this is a difficult situation for Joakim Medin. But he is not himself part of the management of this case. It is a matter between two states," says Strömmer.
"According to the law, we cannot make any other decision."
Strömmer says that today's government decision is in line with how previous governments have handled similar cases.
"I think everyone understands what it would mean if we had a different attitude – that is, if we opened the floodgates in the Swedish judicial system for these kinds of proceedings from other countries. That is of course out of the question," he concludes.
The news republished in Cypriot media
Editorial team
photo mikael_good, https://pixabay.com
