Alican Uludag, a correspondent for the German news outlet Deutsche Welle, has been arrested in Turkey, according to reports from German media. He has garnered multiple awards for his investigative work on corruption and the Turkish legal system. The arrest involved a raid at his residence by approximately 30 police officers, indicating the severity and the dramatic nature of the police action against him.

The CEO of Deutsche Welle, Barbara Massing, has vehemently condemned the arrest, calling for Uludag’s immediate release. She highlighted that the way he was treated—being taken away by a large police force as if he were a hardened criminal—was a deliberate intimidation tactic intended to instill fear regarding press freedom in Turkey. This incident raises concerns about the increasing authoritarian measures taken by the Turkish government against journalists and the media.

Uludag is reportedly facing formal allegations of spreading misinformation and insulting Turkey and its president. This situation exemplifies the broader crackdown on dissent and independent journalism in Turkey, where numerous journalists have faced similar fates, prompting international outcry and calls for the protection of journalistic freedoms.