A BBC journalist has been deported from Turkey following his coverage of protests against the arrest of prominent opposition figure, Ekrem Imamoglu. Correspondent Mark Lowen had been reporting on the unrest in Istanbul, sparked by Mr Imamoglu’s detention on corruption charges, when he himself was detained. Imamoglu, widely seen as a key rival to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, has denied the allegations.
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The BBC confirmed that Mr Lowen was deported after being held for 17 hours, with Turkish authorities citing him as a “threat to public order”. In a statement, Lowen expressed his distress at being expelled from a country he had previously lived in for five years, highlighting the importance of press freedom and impartial reporting in a democratic society. BBC News chief executive, Deborah Turness, described the incident as deeply troubling and stated that the corporation would raise the issue with the Turkish government.
Imamoglu’s arrest has triggered widespread protests, with demonstrations erupting in over 55 provinces across Turkey. Riot police have clashed with protesters, and the international community has voiced condemnation of the actions taken against the opposition leader. Mr Imamoglu, who was expected to challenge President Erdogan in the 2028 elections, is seen by many as the only candidate capable of defeating the long-serving leader.
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Within just four days, Imamoglu went from serving as mayor of Istanbul—a position that once launched Erdogan’s own political career—to being arrested, interrogated, and stripped of his mayoral office. His supporters remain defiant, despite the growing tensions and government crackdowns on the opposition movement.
