Turkey targets press freedom in trial of DW's Alican Uludag

DW correspondent Alican Uludag has been in custody in Turkey for three months, in part on charges of "insulting the president." He is set to appear in court for the first time on Thursday, though only via video link. DW correspondent Alican Uludag, accused of publicly insulting President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, spreading misleading information and disparaging state institutions in a total of 22 social media posts, will appear in court for the first time on Thursday. Uludag was arrested at his apartment in Ankara on February 19 and transferred to Istanbul, where he was placed in pre-trial detention. Although he is being held in Istanbul, his trial is taking place in Ankara. Despite his specific request to present his defense in person, Uludag is only allowed to participate in the proceedings via video conference. DW calls arrest a 'targeted attempt at intimidation' Uludag's case is considered particularly noteworthy, as he is one of the few remaining journalists in Turkey who focus on reporting on the judiciary and court proceedings. Following his arrest, DW Director-General Barbara Massing dismissed the allegations against him as baseless. She called his arrest a "targeted attempt at intimidation," and said his case demonstrated "the extent to which the government is massively repressing press freedom." Massing emphasized that Uludag has an excellent network and access to key sources. From the government's perspective, she said, this is precisely what could make him an inconvenient and potentially dangerous voice. DW Director-General Barbara Massing has dismissed the allegations against Uludag as baseless Image: DW Erol Onderoglu, the Turkey representative for press freedom watchdog Reporters Without Borders (RSF), said Uludag was being "arbitrarily targeted by a judiciary beholden to those in power." He added that Uludag, who he described as a "serious journalist known for his investigations into matters of public interest," may have angered those in power with his investigations. Uludag himself considers his arrest a deliberate attempt to keep him from continuing his work. He had previously reported on contradictions in indictments and inconsistencies in key witness testimonies, on topics he claims to have covered impartially. "I have not strayed from my journalistic work. I believe that the majority of members of the judiciary are themselves concerned about the increasingly politicized proceedings," he said. "I will continue to pursue the truth. I do not admit to any of the charges." The journalist also described his time in custody as a paradoxical experience. While the opportunity to observe daily prison life and the mental state of inmates up close is personally difficult, he said, it is at the same time journalistically significant for his work as a justice reporter. In late March, Turkish journalists protested in Ankara against Uludag's arrest, calling for his freedom Image: ANKA Press freedom under pressure Uludag is not the only journalist in Turkey who has been detained or is facing political pressure. Since his arrest in February, there have been several trials against media professionals, resulting in more convictions against journalists than are typically handed down in an entire year. The state of press freedom in the country is dire: In RSF's 2026 World Press Freedom Index, Turkey fell four places and now ranks 163rd out of 180 countries. Censorship, legal sanctions and the fear of criminal prosecution are increasingly part of everyday life for journalists in the country. According to RSF, fundamental guarantees of press freedom are eroding worldwide but this process is particularly evident in Turkey. The Turkish Journalists' Union (TGS) has called out the broad spectrum of pressure and repression against media professionals. This includes preliminary investigations, criminal and civil lawsuits, as well as physical and verbal attacks on journalists and media outlets. The TGS has warned that state intervention against media outlets is increasing, adding that these are not isolated cases but rather a structural problem. The principles of the rule of law are being increasingly undermined, and constitutional guarantees are losing their significance. Journalistic work, in particular, is repeatedly being targeted by criminal and administrative legal measures. According to the TGS, Turkey is among the countries where charges such as "disinformation," "insulting the president" and "defamation of state institutions" are routinely used to suppress critical reporting. The data clearly shows that these are by no means isolated cases. German gov't 'deeply concerned' about DW journalist's arrest To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video 15 journalists, media workers in custody Article 217/A of the Turkish penal code, which came into force in 2022 and is often referred to in public as the "censorship law," plays a central role in this conte