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
Trump cancels Putin meeting, says "didn't feel right"
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in Caracas: The United States attacks another alleged drug-trafficking ship off the coast of Colombia in the Pacific Ocean
Palestinian official urges world to force 'Israel' to comply with ICJ ruling: AFP
Israeli media says Knesset approved bill to annex in West Bank in preliminary reading
Kremlin: As part of strategic nuclear force exercise, Cruiser Bryansk launched Sineva ballistic missile from Barents Sea.
Kremlin: Yars Intercontinental Ballistic Missile launched from Plesetsk Cosmodrome at Kura test site in Kamchatka.
Kremlin: Strategic nuclear forces exercise took place under Putin's leadership.
Lebanese MP Imad Al-Hout, following his meeting with the Grand Mufti of the Republic: Lebanon is the last country to move toward peace and normalization [with "Israel"]
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in South Lebanon: One martyr reported in Israeli drone strike targeting motorcycle in Ain Qana.
Israeli media: Sirens sound in Nahal Oz settlement in Gaza Envelope.

Swedish court blocked extradition of exiled Turkish journalist Kenes

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 19 Dec 2022 14:06
  • 2 Shares
3 Min Read

The extradition of exiled Turkish journalist from Stockholm to Ankara is a key demand for Turkey to allow Sweden bid for NATO.

  • x
  • Exiled Turkish journalist Bulent Kenes (Getty Images)
    Exiled Turkish journalist Bulent Kenes (Getty Images)

Sweden's Supreme Court ruled against the extradition of an exiled Turkish journalist on Monday, going against one of Ankara's key demands for Stockholm's NATO membership accession.

The court stated there were "several hindrances" to returning former ZAMAN daily editor-in-chief Bulent Kenes, whom Turkey accused of being engaged in the 2016 coup attempt against President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Some of the charges against Kenes are not crimes in Sweden, which, combined with the political aspect of the case and his refugee status in Sweden, made extradition impossible, according to the court.

"There is also a risk of persecution based on this person's political beliefs," and as a result "the government... is not able to grant the extradition request," Judge Petter Asp said in a statement.

Kenes, who now works for the Stockholm Center for Freedom, an organization created by other Turkish dissidents in exile, told AFP he was "happy" with the ruling and emphasized that the claims against him were "fabricated by the Erdogan regime."

The exiled journalist is the only individual named by Erdogan, among hundreds of persons Ankara wants extradited in exchange for Sweden's membership bid to NATO.

Related News

US-led West attacking Russia 'almost without restrictions': Erdogan

Erdogan demands exiled journalist in Sweden in exchange for NATO bid

Ankara wants Bulen, along with other political refugees, to be extradited in exchange for approving Sweden's membership bid to NATO, as Sweden has 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.

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. 

"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. 

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.

Read more: Sweden extradited PKK member to Turkey, fulfills a NATO condition

  • Gulen
  • Turkey
  • Nato
  • PKK
  • Sweden
  • Ankara
  • Stockholm

Most Read

Yemeni Armed Forces Chief of Staff Major General Mohammad Abd al-Karim al-Ghamari , during a ceremony in an undisclosed locations in Yemen, undate (Yemeni Military Media)

Yemeni Armed Forces mourn martyred Chief of Staff al-Ghamari

  • Politics
  • 16 Oct 2025
From previous scenes of the Qassam Brigades targeting an Israeli D9 bulldozer with a Yassin 105 shell, east of Deir al-Balah. (Military Media of the Qassam Brigades)

US knew fatal Rafah blast cause was not Hamas op., says journalist

  • Politics
  • 20 Oct 2025
Smoke and fire rises after 'Israel' launched airstrikes on the village of Ansar, Lebanon, October 16, 2025 (social media)

'Israel' launches two waves of brutal strikes on east, south Lebanon

  • Politics
  • 16 Oct 2025
A woman with her purchased groceries walks out from an underground market, in Beijing, Wednesday, August 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)

Global brands in China face pressure from rising local rivals

  • Economy
  • 17 Oct 2025

Coverage

All
War on Gaza

Read Next

All
Pro-Palestinian activists protest at Lafayette Park across from the White House to mark the approaching one year anniversary of the Israeli war on Gaza, Saturday, October 5, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)
Arts and Culture

Jewish figures calls for sanctions on 'Israel' over Gaza genocide

Activists from the Foreign Press Association during a panel calling for press freedom in Gaza, April 11, 2025 in London, England. (X/ @FPALondon)
Politics

FPA demands Israeli court to allow int'l journalists access to Gaza

Matsapha Correctional Complex is seen in Matsapha, near Mbabane, Eswatini, Thursday July 17, 2025. (AP Photo)
Politics

Cuban man deported from US to Eswatini launches hunger strike

Russia President Vladimir Putin conducts a strategic nuclear forces exercise via videoconference from the Presidential Situation Centre at the Kremlin in Moscow, on Wednesday, October 22, 2025. (Alexander Kazakov, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)
Politics

Putin oversees ICBM, cruise missile tests in strategic nuclear drill

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