US Edition
Turkish police detain Deutsche Welle journalist over social media posts
Alican Uludag faces charges of misleading the public and insulting state institutions amid growing concerns over press freedom in Turkey, where 14 journalists remain imprisoned, the syndicate said.
- Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office said it detained Alican Uludag, Deutsche Welle correspondent, in Ankara on February 19, 2026, launching a criminal investigation over his social media posts.
- Prosecutors say the probe stems from an X post about a year and a half ago that criticized government measures tied to the release of suspected Islamic State militants and included corruption accusations.
- About thirty police officers arrested Uludag in front of his family at his Ankara home late Thursday, searched the apartment, confiscated IT equipment, and transferred him to Istanbul Provincial Police headquarters.
- DW's director general Barbara Massing called the accusations baseless and the arrest a deliberate act of intimidation, while journalists protested outside Istanbul's Çağlayan Courthouse and DW colleagues, local lawyers, and Istanbul Bar Association attorneys will accompany Uludag to the magistrate on February 20, 2026.
- At least 14 journalists are currently imprisoned, and press freedom advocates described Uludag's detention as an attack on media independence, highlighting broader repression in Turkey.
72 Articles
72 Articles
In Turkey, journalists' associations and opposition elected officials call for the immediate release of Alicante Uludag, a Turkish journalist from German public radio and television Deutsche Welle, arrested on Thursday 19 and placed in pre-trial detention Friday 20 February for "repeated insults to the president" Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The journalist, known for his coverage of judicial cases, believes that his arrest aims to silence him.
Alican Uludag is considered a well-connected journalist. Now the employee of the Deutsche Welle in Turkey was arrested in front of his children and then arrested. The indignation is great.
Turkish authorities arrest journalist for ’insulting president’
A Turkish journalist with German public broadcaster Deutsche Welle (DW) was jailed by an Istanbul court on Friday on charges of "insulting the president", an NGO said a day after his arrest by 30 police officers. Alican Uludag was arrested in Ankara on Thursday evening following a warrant issued by the Istanbul public prosecutor's office, which said it had opened an investigation into him for "insulting" President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and "disse…
The long-time DW reporter Alican Uludag was arrested. Now the federal government demands his release. What is behind the case?
A court in Istanbul issued an arrest warrant against journalist Alican Uludag, accused of insulting the president.
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 46% of the sources are Center
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
