Week 18: Journalists are imprisoned and democracy is undermined

While Swedish debaters marked World Press Freedom Day, journalist Joakim Medin is still imprisoned in Turkey and Donald Trump continues his pressure on universities and media in the US. Image: Collage in Canva – Turkish flag: Michał Dubrawski/Flickr. President Trump: Shealah Craighead/ Trump White House Archived/Flickr

Of: Ida Löjmand and Mona Adam Abdi

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.  

May 6, 2025, Current debate

Freedom of expression under pressure in Turkey

Protests in Turkey following the arrests of Istanbul's mayor and several journalists have been met with heavy-handed police action and censorship. At the same time, criticism of the government's restrictions on freedom of expression is growing. Image: Canva

Of: Mona Adam Abdi

The Turkish state continues to strengthen its influence over public discourse. After arrestn by Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu and several journalists have protests broke out - Mto eat w/ mass arrests, censorship and police crackdowns. Criticism is growing against a government that uses the law to silence dissent.  

April 15, 2025, Development magazine explains

Week 13: Debators criticize US power play in Greenland and trade policy

This week, the debate on global issues has revolved around how the EU should respond to the Trump administration's trade policy, the US's actions against Greenland, and developments in Turkey following the imprisonment of opposition leader Imamoglu. Image: collage in Canva.

Of: Meja Roberg and Olle Hoög

US Vice President JD Vance's brief visit to Greenland has once again set the stagen at the center of a geopolitical tug-of-war. At the same time, Donald Trump continues Trumps tariff policy to create concern in Europe, where experts warn of the long-term consequences of the trade war. In Turkey, the arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imomoglu raised international attention, but EU leaders have so far been conspicuously silent.

April 1, 2025, Current debate

Syria's new government – ​​a threat to Kurdish autonomy

Turkish and Syrian flags are raised in Rojava, while abandoned vehicles line the road to Damascus. Turkey stands as the winner in the Syrian civil war, experts say. They point to how Ankara can now gain increased influence over the future of the Kurdish self-rule Rojava in northern Syria. Images: Afrin Human Rights Observatory & Sabry Abdoush

Of: Josephine Forthmann

On the morning of December 8, 2024, Syrians celebrated the end of the Assad family's tyrannical regime. But far from everyone is hopeful for a peaceful future. FUF correspondent Josephine Forthmann contacted two people in Syria to hear their thoughts on the regime change.

February 8, 2025, FUF-correspondents, Reportage

Week 44: Debaters criticize the government on several points

Foreign Minister Tobias Billström (M) received sharp criticism during last week's debate - among other things for having called Turkey a democracy. Photo: Reinis Inkēns, Saeima's Administration. Source: Wikimedia commons.

Of: Elianne Kjellman and Ella Sjöbeck

Foreign Minister Tobias Billström's (M) statements about Turkey have stirred emotions during the past week's debate. The new government's aid and climate policy has also been debated. 

November 7, 2022, Current debate

Week 40: "Support for women in Iran must not stop at murmurs"

Debaters demand that the EU and the rest of the world act more unitedly and forcefully in support of the protests in Iran. Pictured: Demonstrations in Stockholm in solidarity with Iranian women's freedom struggle. Photo: Artin Bakhan. Source: Unsplash.

Of: Sandra Duru and Vilma Ellemark

The discussion around the outside world's support for the protests in Iran continues. Several debaters believe that Sweden, the EU and the free world must now move from words to action. Also Erdogan outcome of a Swedish satirical program has been discussed during the past week.  

October 11, 2022, Current debate

Week 22: Climate summit in Stockholm and Turkey's demands for Swedish NATO membership guide this week's debate

This is what it looked like when world leaders triumphantly agreed on the 1,5-degree goal at the climate summit in Paris in 2015. In connection with the Stockholm + 50 meeting that took place this week, it is still a matter of rolling up our sleeves and getting the job done, Lovisa Arvidsson writes in Aftonbladet. Photo: UNclimatechange. Source: Flickr.

Of: Hanne Karlsson and Markus Hietanen

During the past week, both Turkey's demands for Swedish NATO membership and the Stockholm + 50 Climate Summit have been debated. How should Sweden respond to Turkey's various demands and what is most important to prioritize in the climate issue? 

June 8, 2022, Current debate

Week 17: New wave of covid-19 in India, Swedish geopolitics and authoritarian regimes

Photo: Firos nv, Unsplash

Of: Erica Frank and Sofia Karlsson

This week, the debate has mainly focused on global health, focusing on India's new wave of covid-19, so-called vaccine nationalism, and how the Indian government has handled the crisis. It has also been written about Erdogan's influence on Swedish history writing and about Swedish handling of authoritarian regimes.

May 4, 2021, Current debate

Women continue to be excluded from peace processes in Turkey

The organization Operation 1325 has produced recommendations on how Sweden can contribute to the implementation of the UN resolution on women, peace and security in Turkey. Photo: UN Women Gallery, Flickr.com.

Of: Julia Thalin

Turkey's involvement in conflicts has escalated in the past year. At the same time, the political space for women's organization is shrinking and women continue to be excluded from peace processes. Civil society is now raising its voice for compliance with the UN resolution on women, peace and security throughout the country.

December 14, 2020, News

Turkey is considering leaving the Council of Europe Convention on Violence against Women

Photo: Photographer: Özge Sebzeci, www.flickr.com/photos/condevcenter/33397032776/sizes/l/

Of: Julia Thalin

Reports of increased violence against women in Turkey and the murder of 27-year-old Pinar Gültekins this summer have created major protests. Nevertheless, President Erdoğan and the conservative AKP are considering abandoning the Council of Europe Convention on Violence against Women.

October 13, 2020, News