In brief
The BBC confirmed that its reporter, Mark Lowen, was detained and subsequently deported from Turkey after reporting on anti-government protests following the arrest of a rival of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Detained for 17 hours, Lowen arrived back in London, prompting outrage from the BBC over the treatment of journalists. Protests erupted after Ekrem Imamoglu, Istanbul's mayor, was accused of corruption and supporting terrorism, leading to hundreds of arrests. Critics argue these actions signify Erdogan’s authoritarian regime.
Mark Lowen, a seasoned journalist who previously spent five years in Turkey, condemned his deportation, emphasizing the necessity of press freedom in any democracy. As protests continue, the situation remains tense, with reports of over 1,300 people arrested, including several journalists. Turkish officials have yet to issue a comment on the matter.
