BBC correspondent Mark Lowen has been expelled from Turkey

BBC correspondent Mark Lowen has been expelled from Turkey following his arrest in Istanbul on Wednesday, as reported by the BBC.

Lowen arrived in Turkey several days prior to report on the ongoing protests triggered by the recent arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu. Imamoglu, who is currently imprisoned on corruption charges he denies, is viewed as a significant political rival to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and has been nominated by his party as a presidential candidate for the 2028 election.

In a statement released Thursday, the BBC said, "This morning (27 March), Turkish authorities deported BBC News correspondent Mark Lowen from Istanbul, having taken him from his hotel the day before and detaining him for 17 hours." During his deportation, he received a written notice alleging that he posed "a threat to public order." Lowen commented, "Being detained and deported from a country where I once lived for five years and hold a deep affection for has been incredibly distressing. Press freedom and impartial reporting are essential components of any democracy." Deborah Turness, the BBC's CEO of News, expressed concern, stating, "This is a deeply troubling incident and we will raise our concerns with the Turkish authorities. Mark is a seasoned correspondent with extensive knowledge of Turkey, and no journalist should endure such treatment simply for performing their job. We remain committed to reporting fairly and impartially on events in Turkey." Protests across Turkey have drawn thousands of participants, resulting in more than 1,400 arrests so far. Demonstrators allege that Imamoglu's arrest is politically motivated, while the justice ministry maintains its commitment to judicial independence.

President Erdogan has condemned the protests as "evil" and accused the opposition of "disturbing the peace." Several journalists have also faced arrests, including a photojournalist from Agence France Presse and a number of Turkish reporters, though many were reportedly released on Thursday morning. While nightly demonstrations have ceased, Turkey's main opposition party, the Republican People's Party (CHP), plans to hold a rally in Istanbul on Saturday.