A Turkish journalist working for German public broadcaster Deutsche Welle (DW) has been arrested and detained in Ankara on charges of “spreading false information” and “insulting the president,” according to a statement by the Istanbul prosecutor’s office.
The journalist, Alican Uludağ, is under investigation for “insulting the President of the Republic and disseminating misleading information via the internet,” the prosecutor’s office said. He was taken into custody in Ankara.
Dispute over grounds for investigation
According to the prosecutor’s statement, the investigation was triggered by posts published on Uludağ’s social media account on X, under the handle @alicanuludag.
However, his lawyer, Tora Pekin of DW Türkçe, told Agence France-Presse that the charges relate to an article published on the DW website concerning the planned repatriation of Turkish nationals allegedly linked to the jihadist group Islamic State.
“Uludağ was detained because of his article titled ‘Turkey Prepares to Repatriate Turkish Citizens Belonging to Islamic State,’” Pekin said.
DW, in comments to AFP, stated that the charges concern “a post on X from approximately a year and a half ago,” in which Uludağ criticised measures taken by the Turkish government that may have led to the release of Islamic State militants and accused the government of corruption.
Arrest conducted in front of family
According to Deutsche Welle, Uludağ was detained in front of members of his family by around 30 police officers. His home was searched and computer equipment was seized.
Pekin said the journalist was being transferred from Ankara to Istanbul and is expected to appear before prosecutors.
DW Director General Barbara Massing described the charges as “baseless” and demanded that Uludağ “be released immediately.”
Broader regional context
The case comes amid renewed regional developments following military operations last month by Syria’s de facto government in the country’s northeast to regain control from the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces.
Thousands of suspected jihadists and their relatives, previously held in camps, were transferred to Iraq. The US Central Command (CENTCOM) said last week that it had moved more than 5,700 adult men to Iraqi prisons since January 21. US officials had earlier indicated plans to transfer around 7,000 detainees and called on countries to repatriate their nationals.
Turkish authorities have repeatedly declined to confirm or deny whether Turkish nationals were among those transferred or whether they were repatriated to Turkey.
Press freedom concerns
Reporters Without Borders (RSF) said Uludağ’s arrest forms part of a broader pattern of judicial action against independent journalists.
Erol Önderoğlu, RSF’s representative in Turkey, denounced what he described as “relentless arbitrary practices targeting a journalist who disturbed those in power through his investigations.”
“When a journalist is treated like a common criminal, arrested by 30 police officers and immediately transferred to Istanbul, it reveals targeted intimidation and demonstrates the extent to which the government harshly suppresses press freedom,” Massing added.
Sources: AMNA, AFP