Turkey has deported BBC journalist Mark Lowen after he reported on anti-government protests spurred by the arrest of Istanbul's mayor, fueling concerns over press freedom in the country.
Turkey Deports BBC Journalist Amid Ongoing Protests
Turkey Deports BBC Journalist Amid Ongoing Protests
BBC's Mark Lowen detained and forced out while covering unrest linked to Erdogan's political rival.
The BBC announced that correspondent Mark Lowen has been deported from Turkey after his detention for reporting on mass protests following the arrest of Ekrem Imamoglu, a major political rival of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Lowen was taken from his hotel and held for 17 hours before being expelled from the country, arriving back in London on Thursday morning.
“No journalist should face this kind of treatment simply for doing their job,” said Deborah Turness, BBC News' chief executive, calling the incident “extremely troubling.” She affirmed the BBC’s commitment to impartial reporting on events in Turkey and stated that they would engage with Turkish officials regarding the matter.
Lowen had been in the country amidst a wave of demonstrations triggered by Imamoglu’s arrest on claims of corruption and supporting terrorism. His removal from office and subsequent jail time, amid claims of political bias, have incited widespread protests across Turkey, resulting in approximately 1,300 arrests, including 11 journalists.
“Being detained and deported from the country where I previously lived for five years and for which I have such affection has been extremely distressing,” Mr. Lowen remarked, emphasizing that press freedom and neutral reporting are essential for democracy.
The Turkish government has yet to comment on the deportation, and the crackdown on journalists continues as reports indicate multiple media professionals have faced similar fates during this period of unrest.
