Turkish Journalist Alican Uludağ Arrested Over Social Media Post, Berlin Angry

Turkish Journalist Alican Uludağ Arrested Over Social Media Post: A New Blow to Press Freedom

The Turkish judiciary has sparked international outcry following the formal arrest of Alican Uludağ, a veteran investigative reporter and Ankara correspondent for the German public broadcaster Deutsche Welle (DW). Uludağ was detained in Ankara on February 19, 2026, and swiftly transported to Istanbul, where a court ordered his pre-trial detention on Friday.

The charges against Uludağ include “publicly insulting the President,” “disseminating misleading information,” and “insulting state institutions.” The arrest centers on a social media post from nearly 18 months ago, in which Uludağ criticized government policies that allegedly led to the release of suspected ISIS militants and raised allegations of corruption within the judicial system.

“I Will Not Deviate From My Path”

Uludağ, known for his high-profile reporting on corruption and human rights violations, remained defiant during his court testimony. Rejecting the criminalization of his journalistic work, he delivered a poignant statement that has since gone viral among press freedom advocates.

“I have two children. For the sake of doing journalism for the people of this country, my children’s tears may fall, but I will not deviate from my path. I have committed no crime; I have only done my job,” Uludağ told the prosecutor.

Procedural Anomalies and Domestic Outcry

The logistics of the arrest have raised eyebrows among legal experts and political figures. Mansur Yavaş, the Mayor of Ankara, publicly questioned why a resident of the capital was transferred to the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office for a social media investigation that typically falls under local jurisdiction.

“The fact that the process is being carried out by the Istanbul Prosecutor’s Office despite the suspect residing and posting from Ankara raises serious questions regarding jurisdiction, procedure, and proportionality,” Yavaş stated. He emphasized that the arrest of journalists should be an exceptional measure and called for the strict protection of freedom of expression and the right to a fair trial.

Berlin Deeply Concerned as Diplomatic Tensions Rise

The arrest has immediately soured relations between Ankara and Berlin. A German government spokesperson stated that Berlin is “deeply concerned” and stressed that DW must be allowed to report independently without fear of retribution.

Barbara Massing, Director General of Deutsche Welle, condemned the move as a “deliberate act of intimidation.” She highlighted Uludağ’s role as a dangerous figure in the eyes of the government due to his deep connections and access to sensitive corruption sources.

“The fact that a journalist is treated like a high-level criminal, hauled away by thirty police officers and brought directly to Istanbul, shows the severity of the suppression of press freedom in Turkey,” Massing said, demanding his immediate release.

A Growing Pattern of Media Suppression

The incident comes just days after the German Foreign Ministry updated its travel advisory (February 16, 2026), warning citizens that social media activity deemed lawful in Europe could lead to prosecution in Turkey.

The European Parliament’s Turkey rapporteur, Nacho Sanchez Amor, described the situation as “depressing,” signaling that this case will likely feature prominently in upcoming EU-Turkey progress reports. As Uludağ joins a growing list of journalists behind bars in Turkey, the international community views this latest arrest as a calculated message to independent media ahead of the upcoming midterm elections.

Case Overview at a Glance