Investigative journalist Alican Uludag, a correspondent with DW in Turkey, has been arrested in Ankara. The allegations against the anti-corruption reporter relate to comments critical of the Turkish government.Live TV
MediaGermany
DW correspondent arrested in Turkey
38 minutes ago38 minutes ago
Investigative journalist Alican Uludag, a correspondent with DW in Turkey, has been arrested in Ankara. The allegations against the anti-corruption reporter relate to comments critical of the Turkish government.
https://p.dw.com/p/596zb
A photo of DW’s headquarters in Bonn on August 27, 2017
DW is Germany’s international broadcaster
DW reporter Alican Uludag was arrested in Ankara on Thursday and taken to the headquarters of the Istanbul Provincial Police, the highest police authority in Istanbul.
Uludag, who has worked for DW in Turkey for several years, was scheduled to appear before a magistrate on Friday.
What else do we know about the correspondent’s arrest?
About 30 police officers arrested Uludag in front of his family. His apartment was searched and IT equipment was confiscated.
Uludag is accused of “disseminating misleading information to the public,” “insulting the president,” and “insulting the Turkish nation, state, and institutions.”
The allegations relate to an X-post he made about a year and a half ago. In it, he criticizes measures taken by the Turkish government that led to the release of possible “Islamic State” terrorists. He accused the government of corruption. As a long-time court reporter, Uludag reports on human rights violations, corruption cases, and trials that reach a wide audience.
DW Director General Barbara Massing urged Uludag’s release.
“The accusations against our colleague are baseless. Alican Uludag is a well-known investigative journalist who focuses on reporting about corruption,” said Massing.
“He is very well-connected and has access to important sources. This makes him dangerous to the government, in their eyes. The fact that a journalist is being treated like a serious criminal, taken away by 30 police officers and brought directly to Istanbul, serves as a deliberate act of intimidation and shows how severely the government is suppressing press freedom. Our colleague must be released immediately.”
DW is in close contact with Uludag’s relatives, local lawyers, and other relevant authorities in Turkey. On Friday, Alican Uludag will be accompanied to the magistrate by DW colleagues, lawyers, and attorneys from the Istanbul Bar Association



