During the seminar, organised by Centre for Advanced Middle Eastern Studies and moderated by Lisa Strömbom, CMES Deputy Director. Medin spoke about his experiences from reporting in the region and the circumstances surrounding his arrest in Istanbul in March 2025. Accused by the Turkish authorities of terrorism-related offences and of insulting President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, he was imprisoned in the Marmara Prison.
The discussion centred on the shrinking space for independent journalism and free expression in the region. One particularly striking moment came when Medin noted that more than 250 journalists had been killed in the ongoing war in Gaza, with around 70 on duty journalists reportedly killed, which was met with a collective gasp from the audience.
Drawing on his experiences, Medin offered a personal account of navigating the region´s legal and political systems as a foreign journalist.
When asked whether he believed he would one day be able to return to Turkey, Medin expressed cautious optimism.
"I believe I will be able to return. There are strong currents that could emerge when Erdoğan is no longer in power. I hope Turkey will move in a new direction."
The seminar concluded with questions from the audience and a broader discussion about the role of journalism in defending democratic values and documenting human rights abuses.
Event: CMES Seminar: We have a dream - Munkavlar och motstånd: press- och yttrandefrihet i Mellanöstern
Speaker: Joakim Medin, journalist and author
Moderator: Lisa Strömbom, Deputy Director, CMES
Venue: Domkyrkoforum, Lund
Attendance: Approximately 70 participants