BBC News reporter Mark Lowen was detained and deported from Turkey while reporting on nationwide protests following the arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu. Lowen, a seasoned journalist who had previously resided in Turkey for five years, was held for 17 hours before being deported. Turkish officials cited him as a “threat to public order,” a charge strongly criticized by press freedom organizations.
Turkey Protests Erupt Over İmamoğlu’s Arrest
The protests started after the arrest of İmamoğlu, an opposition political force to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, on charges of corruption and terrorism-related offenses that he denies. His supporters say the allegations are politically charged to keep him from contesting Erdoğan in the 2028 presidential election. The demonstrations, organized by the opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), have attracted hundreds of thousands of people. There are reports of police firing tear gas, rubber bullets, and water cannons at the protesters. Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said that at least 1,879 people have been arrested since the disturbances started on March 19.
![](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,<svg height="1080px" width="1920px" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" version="1.1"/>)
![](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,<svg height="163px" width="309px" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" version="1.1"/>)
![](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,<svg height="179px" width="281px" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" version="1.1"/>)
![](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,<svg height="168px" width="299px" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" version="1.1"/>)
Press Freedom Under Threat in Turkey
Lowen’s deportation has escalated concerns over Turkey’s press freedom. The Turkish government has a strong grip on media; the state media regulator, RTÜK, for example, suspended opposition channel Sözcü TV from broadcasting for 10 days. Several other networks have also been fined for reporting on the protests.
BBC News Chief Executive Deborah Turness branded Lowen’s deportation “extremely troubling,” declaring, “No journalist should receive this kind of treatment simply for doing their job. We will continue to report impartially and fairly on events in Turkey.”
Journalists Face Arrest, Censorship
Reporters Without Borders (RSF) criticized Lowen’s deportation, urging Turkey to desist from criminalizing journalists. RSF Turkey representative Erol Önderoğlu said, “This professional journalist and Turkey specialist was charged with being a ‘threat to public order’ merely for reporting on protests.”
Several other journalists have been detained as well, such as the AFP photographer Yasin Akgul. Seven Turkish journalists arrested during demonstrations are still under investigation.
Government Defends Actions
Turkey’s Justice Minister Yılmaz Tunç defended İmamoğlu’s arrest, dismissing claims of political motivation. “We reject any association of the probe with President Erdoğan,” he stated. Authorities also claimed Lowen lacked proper accreditation, justifying “administrative action.”
International Outrage and Economic Impact
Human rights groups and foreign governments have denounced Turkey’s move, warning of increasing censorship. Emma Sinclair-Webb, Human Rights Watch’s Turkey Director, said, “This sends a message to international media that ‘we will not tolerate you covering stories we don’t want the world to see.'”
Turkey stands at 158 among 180 nations in the World Press Freedom Index. The government, under 2022 legislation, increased control over online media, limiting sites such as Instagram, WhatsApp, and YouTube.
At the same time, Turkey’s financial markets have responded harshly. The lira crashed upon İmamoğlu’s arrest, leading the central bank to burn through an estimated $25 billion in reserves to stabilize the currency. Investors are still wary of political and economic instability.
