DW Journalist Arrested in Türkiye as Another Remains Detained in Niger

Turkish Authorities Arrest DW Correspondent

On 19–20 February 2026, Turkish authorities arrested investigative journalist Alican Uludağ, a correspondent for Deutsche Welle’s Turkish service, in Ankara, detaining him on charges of “insulting the president” and “disseminating misleading information.”

Uludağ was taken from his home by a large police presence and transferred to Istanbul, where prosecutors launched a criminal investigation over a series of social media posts on the platform X. Turkish officials say these posts included criticism of government actions and statements seen as undermining the “honor, dignity and respectability” of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. The charges carry a possible prison sentence.

Deutsche Welle condemned the arrest, calling the allegations “baseless” and “a deliberate act of intimidation” meant to suppress independent reporting. DW’s director-general, Barbara Massing, demanded Uludağ’s immediate release, stressing the importance of press freedom and the right of journalists to report without fear of prosecution.

The arrest has drawn sharp criticism from international press freedom organizations and advocacy groups. PEN Norway, the International Press Institute (IPI), and others have issued joint statements condemning Uludağ’s detention and calling on Turkish authorities to drop all charges and release him unconditionally. They describe his treatment as part of a broader pattern of judicial harassment aimed at silencing critical journalism in Türkiye.

Earlier Arrest of DW Journalist in Niger Still Unresolved

Meanwhile, another Deutsche Welle journalist continues to be detained in Niger. Gazali Abdou Tasawa, a DW Hausa-language correspondent, was arrested in January 2026 after reporting on the plight of Nigerian refugees in the capital, Niamey.

Tasawa was questioned by police and detained on 23 January in connection with a report that documented refugees sleeping in makeshift conditions after the demolition of their shelters. Nigerien authorities have not publicly disclosed formal charges, and DW has not been officially informed of any specific accusations against him.

Press freedom advocates, including the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), have called for Tasawa’s release and criticized Niger’s growing use of detention to intimidate journalists. His arrest is part of a broader pattern under the country’s current military government, which has been cited as increasingly hostile to independent media.

Context: Press Freedom Under Strain
Both cases highlight escalating pressures on independent journalism:

Türkiye has been widely criticized for its treatment of journalists, using laws against “insulting the president” and “spreading misinformation” to pursue media workers. Reporters Without Borders ranks the country low on its World Press Freedom Index, and many journalists face legal action or detention as part of a broader clampdown on critical reporting.

In Niger, the military regime has repeatedly detained journalists for coverage it finds unfavorable, with several reporters behind bars and legal processes opaque at best.

International Reaction
The arrest in Türkiye has sparked protests outside courthouses and demands from media unions, foreign governments, and press freedom groups for Uludağ’s release. Similarly, calls for Tasawa’s freedom in Niger continue but there has been no public progress toward securing his release as of late January 2026.

Mustapha Bature Sallama.
Medical/ Science Communicator,
Private Investigator, Criminal investigation and Intelligence Analysis.

International Conflict Management and Peace Building.USIP

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