Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Israeli violations in the Gaza Strip have not stopped, and just a short while ago, fishermen came under fire from boats
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Israeli occupation forces carry out a large explosion in the eastern neighborhood of the town of Mays al-Jabal in southern Lebanon.
Israeli media: Israeli political leadership decides to open Rafah crossing “as planned” and transfer aid to Gaza Strip.
Palestinian media: Three Palestinians were killed after being targeted by Israeli drone fire in the al-Shujaiya neighborhood east of Gaza City
Nicolas Maduro: The Palestinian cause is the most sacred cause for humanity, and we propose sending teams of builders, farmers, and doctors to Gaza to help the people
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in Lebanon: IOF infiltrate Khallet Wardeh towards the municipality in the town of Aita al-Shaab, south of Lebanon.
Leaders of the United States, Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey sign a ceasefire agreement in Gaza.
Trump arrives in Sharm el-Sheikh
Israeli PM's office: PM informed Trump he would not attend Sharm el-Sheikh Summit on account of Jewish holidays.
Israeli media: Netanyahu makes last-minute decision to cancel trip to Sharm el-Sheikh.

Erdogan demands exiled journalist in Sweden in exchange for NATO bid

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 11 Nov 2022 09:12
4 Min Read

Bulent Kenes has a history of being a staunch critic of the AKP and was accused of backing the Gulen Movement which has been classified as a terror organization by Ankara. 

  • x
  • Bulent Kenes was the only journalist among dozens that was named by Erdogan.
    Bulent Kenes was the only journalist among dozens that was named by Erdogan.

The former editor-in-chief of ZAMAN daily, Bulent Kenes, told reporters on Friday that he was worried about the possibility of being extradited back to Turkey where he is wanted by authorities over charges of conspiring against the government.

Kenes is currently taking refuge in Stockholm, Sweden, one of the countries, along with Finland, that is being pressured to give away exiled journalists and activists in exchange for Ankara's approval of their inclusion in the NATO alliance. 

On Tuesday, during a press conference with Sweden's recently appointed Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan told reporters, "Currently, Bulent Kenes from FETO is in Sweden. It is of great importance for us that this terrorist is deported to Turkey."

Bulent was the only one whom Erdogan identified by name among dozens of other journalists and activists that the Turkish government deems "terrorists" and "dissidents".

Ankara wants Bulen, along with other political refugees, to be extradited in exchange for approving Sweden's membership bid to NATO who has been scrambling to join the alliance ever since the conflict in Ukraine began earlier this year. 

Bulent has a history of being a staunch critic of the Justice and Development Party, formally known as the AKP, which Erdogan is currently leading. 

He was exiled in 2016 after ZAMAN daily was accused of backing the Gulen movement led by Turkish cleric Fethullah Gulen.

After uncovering a series of corruption scandals put by bureaucrats and personalities affiliated with the AKP, the Gulen movement (alternatively known as FETO) was accused of stirring unrest and attempting to establish a Parallel State structure.

Following a failed coup d'etat in 2016, the Gulen Movement has been classified as a terror organization by Ankara.

Sweden can’t call itself a democratic nation if it fufill’s Turkey’s demand to hand over journalist: CPJ https://t.co/4euwcSodu9 pic.twitter.com/d1JWOBTgax

— Turkish Minute (@TurkishMinuteTM) November 9, 2022

On November 8, the Swedish minister said Sweden will fulfill Turkey's conditions to join NATO, adding that Sweden will not have any relationship with the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) but has not mentioned other targeted groups, including the Gulen movement, which Kenes supports ideologically. 

Related News

Turkey arrests defense firm top executives amid espionage probe

Erdogan rival Fethullah Gulen dies at 83 in the US

"Sweden will fulfill the memorandum to the end. We will not have any relationship with the group of the Kurdistan Workers Party," Ulf Kristenson told reporters. 

One request vs. a long list of conditions
While #Turkey had a long list of conditions from #Finland and #Sweden, all the two Nordic states wanted was to join #NATO.
Here's your guide to understanding on what basis the agreement was made. pic.twitter.com/Aw7Jtu7frp

— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) June 28, 2022

Kenes has been taking refuge in Sweden since 2017, and his extradition is scheduled to be decided by the Swedish Supreme Court before the end of this year. 

Regarding the possibility of being extradited, Kenes told reporters, "If you had asked me this question six or seven months ago, I would have said that I have no concerns. But the NATO membership application is a big game changer, a paradigm change for Sweden ... so I am not 100 percent sure about the result."

While he said that he still had "trust in the Swedish legal system," he stressed that if the court was to greenlight his extradition, it would amount to "a huge, illegal scandal."

"I have nothing to do with terrorism, I have nothing to do with violence, I have nothing to do with a coup," he said.

"I do my journalism and just because of that Erdogan and his regime followed me, prosecuted me and chased me."

Geliyor gelmekte olan, durmak yok yola devam… pic.twitter.com/c9w4Cfmbse

— Bulent Kenes 🇺🇦 (@bkenes) November 10, 2022

The two Nordic nations have been accused by Turkey of providing a safe haven for outlawed Kurdish militants it deems "terrorists" and held back on ratifying their NATO membership despite an agreement in June.

On November 5, it was reported that Erdogan told NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg that until Finland and Sweden take the necessary "steps", Turkey will not ratify their membership of NATO.

Twenty-eight of NATO's 30 allies have so far ratified the accession of Finland and Sweden, leaving only Turkey and Hungary to sign off before they officially join the group.

On November 10, the foreign minister of Sweden, Tobias Billstrom, announced he will travel to Ankara to confer with Turkish officials about Sweden's proposed accession to NATO.

Read more: Turkey adopts law targeting online critics of government

  • Fethullah Gulen
  • Turkey
  • Freedom of Speech
  • FETO
  • Human Rights

Most Read

Iran strikes secret Israeli-US bunker under Tel Aviv high-rise

Tel Aviv high-rise struck by Iran hid Site 81, secret US-Israeli base

  • Politics
  • 14 Oct 2025
Palestinian journalist Saleh al-Jaafarawi in an undated image in Gaza, occupied Palestine (Social media)

Gaza Palestinian journalist Saleh al-Jafarawi killed by collaborators

  • Politics
  • 12 Oct 2025
Taylor Swift: The Life of a Showgirl

The Life of a No-Girl: The one verse Taylor Swift refuses to sing

  • Arts and Culture
  • 8 Oct 2025
drop site

New report details extensive Israeli arson in Gaza after ceasefire

  • Politics
  • 13 Oct 2025

Coverage

All
War on Gaza

Read Next

All
Freed Palestinian detainee al-Arida expresses gratitude to Al Mayadeen.
Politics

Freed Palestinian detainee Mahmoud al-Arida salutes Al Mayadeen

Prime Minister of Spain Pedro Sánchez gestures as he speaks at the Global Progress Action Summit, in London, Friday, September 26, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Spain to maintain arms embargo on ‘Israel’ despite ceasefire

Israeli excavators work in the Gaza Strip as the sun sets, seen from southern occupied Palestine, Tuesday, Oct. 14, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Palestinian clans condemn chaos in Gaza, back security forces

The sun sets behind buildings destroyed during the Israeli aggression in the northern Gaza Strip, as seen from southern occupied Palestine, Tuesday, October 14, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Israeli regime cuts Gaza aid to 300 trucks, blocks fuel and gas

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS