Turkey Expels British Journalist Amid Ongoing Protests

The BBC announced the deportation of journalist Mark Lowen from Turkey after he reported on protests related to the arrest of a key political figure, raising alarms regarding press freedom in the country.

Turkey has expelled BBC correspondent Mark Lowen following his detention while reporting on antigovernment protests tied to the arrest of Istanbul’s mayor, Ekrem Imamoglu, a notable rival of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The incident, which the BBC described as alarming, took place on Wednesday when Lowen was taken from his hotel and held for 17 hours before being deported. He returned to London on Thursday morning.

In a statement, Deborah Turness, BBC News’ chief executive, condemned the treatment of journalists and reaffirmed the network’s commitment to reporting fairly and impartially in Turkey. The journalist was in the country to cover the political turmoil ignited by Imamoglu's arrest, which has spurred widespread protests across various Turkish cities. Since last week, hundreds of thousands of citizens have demonstrated against the government, with the interior ministry confirming around 170 arrests related to these protests.

Imamoglu, accused of corruption and aiding terrorism, has characterized his detention as a politically charged move. Critics accuse Erdogan of employing increasingly authoritarian methods during his 20-year rule, particularly against dissenters. Lowen’s deportation is part of a broader crackdown affecting media professionals; the interior ministry reported that 11 journalists were among the over 1,300 people arrested during the protests, with some released without charges.

Expressing his distress, Lowen remarked on the irony of his deportation from a country where he previously resided, underscoring the essential role of press freedom in a democratic society. Turkey's authorities have not publicly commented on the deportation.