Alican Uludag, a journalist working for Deutsche Welle, was arrested on Thursday in Ankara, facing charges linked to his social media posts. According to his lawyer, Uludag had become a target due to articles he wrote about the repatriation of Turkish citizens associated with the Islamic State. His arrest was reportedly connected to his article titled 'Turkey prepares to repatriate Turkish citizens linked to the Islamic State,' raising concerns regarding media freedom in Turkey.

Uludag's attorney, Tora Pekin, highlighted that the charges stem from a post made approximately one and a half years ago on social media, where he criticized government actions thought to have facilitated the release of possible ISIS terrorists. Additionally, Uludag accused the government of corruption in his publication, further escalating tensions between media outlets and the Turkish government, which has a track record of suppressing dissenting voices.

The arrest has raised alarms among international organizations regarding the state of journalism in Turkey, especially in light of increasing restrictions on free speech. Deutsche Welle condemned the arrest, emphasizing the importance of independent reporting and the alarming trend of persecution faced by journalists in the country. This incident underscores the growing challenges for media professionals in Turkey as they navigate an environment rife with political volatility and government oversight.