V18 years old marked both International Press Freedom Day and Donald TTrump's first 100 days as US President. On the Swedish sideshould editorial and debate pages kabout the debate revolving around the Turkish legal process against Joakim Medin and Trump's attacks on academic and freedom of the press.
The same week that the world marked World Press Freedom Day, the trial of Swedish journalist Joakim Medin began in Turkey.. Which directed the eyes towards conditions of press freedom in the country. On Wednesdayen he was sentenced to a suspended sentence for insulting President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, a charge that sparked strong reactions in the Swedish media and from several quarters within the Swedish public sphere. In an editorial in Today's ETC, where Medin himself is active, Annie Croona writes:
– Journalism is not a crime. Joakim Medin is innocent.
Medin's wife, journalist Sofie Axelsson, also expresses concern about the situation. In an interview with Aftonbladet's political editor-in-chief Anders Lindberg, she and Lindberg demand that Sweden take a clearer stand against Turkey in the Medin case. In the leader Lindberg writes:
– The Swedish government needs to do everything it can to ensure Joakim Medin is released. The issue must be at the top of Sweden's agenda in every conversation with Turkey and in conversations with our allies within the EU and NATO.
The demand for a stronger reaction from Sweden echo av media company interest group The publishers who in a debate article in Aftonbladet demands that the charges be dropped immediately. The organization believes that the charges against Medin building "exclusively on Joakim Medin's journalistic work" and urges the Swedish government to act with greater force. In the article they write:
– When a journalist is arrested for practicing journalism, it is an attack on the obvious freedom of the press and expression that should prevail. It is also ultimately an attack on democracy.
Although Expressen's editorial staff comments on the legal process and points out that Turkey's actions violate basic democratic principles:
– The fact that Joakim Medin is being brought to trial so quickly can possibly be interpreted as Turkey not wanting to show its worst side. On the other hand, the very form of the trial violates democratic norms, they write.
Freedoms under threat after 100 days with Trump
Speaking of press freedom, Dagens Nyheter writes in an editorial that American media outlets are censoring themselves due to fear of reprisals. President Donald Trump and his administration have on several occasions barred media outlets from White House press conferences or subjected them to pressure when reporting has been critical.
– Editorial offices are under double pressure – by the president and their owners. These are dark days for American press freedom, they write.
DN's editorial staff have also evaluated Donald Trump's first 100 days as president. Here they list, among other things, Trump's attempts to control what is taught in higher education, as well as the unlawful deportations of migrants to El Salvador, as examples of the president's slow dismantling of democracy in the United States.
The Trump administration has not only put pressure on the media. Academic freedom has also been weakened during Trump's time in power. Through executive orders, research funding has been reduced, especially related to climate and gender equality.
In a debate article in the Althingi, written by leaders of Nordic trade unions, express concern about the development. They argue that the denial of facts and political interference threaten academic freedom at its core, and warn that Trump's decision will have consequences on a global level as well.
– Research is an international concern and we cannot stand by passively when one of the largest players drastically changes the rules of the game, they write.
JoaKim Medin
Turkey is one big prison for journalists
The editorial staff, Expressen
Joakim Medin stands tall during the circus
Annie Croona, Dagens ETC
Sofie Axelsson: drop the charges, let my husband come home
Anders Lindberg, police editor-in-chief, Aftonbladet
With the indictment against Joakim Medin, Turkey is denying its status as a democracy
The Board of Directors of the Publishers, Aftonbladet
100 days with Trump
Leader: This is how you easily tear down a democracy in 100 days
The editorial staff, Dagens Nyheter
Editorial: American media silences itself in fear of Trump's reprimands
The editorial staff, Dagens Nyheter
Leader: We are paving the way for a Donald Trump in Sweden too
The editorial staff, Dagens Nyheter
Tidö 2 must not become like Trump 2
Mattias Svensson, Svenska Dagbladet
In Donald Trump's shadow, Jimmie Åkesson's true face is revealed
Susan Nystrom, Today's news
Europe must stand up for academic freedom
Representatives of university teachers and researchers in the Nordic region, Althingi
Other
"Sweden gives billions – but is not visible on site"
Hassan Deri, Svenska Dagbladet
“Raising tariffs against Ukraine is a betrayal”
Karin Karlsbro, Svenska Dagbladet
Did Trump think it would be easy to get a “deal”?
Max Hjelm, Dagens Nyheter
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