Mark Lowen

BBC news reporter Mark Lowen has been deported from Turkey after covering protests against an opposition leader’s arrest.

Lowen had only been in the country for a few days.

He was reporting on the unrest caused by the detention of Ekrem Imamoglu.

Mr Imamoglu is the main political rival of Turkey’s President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Mr Imamoglu has denied allegations of corruption.

A BBC spokesman said:

“The Turkish authorities deported BBC News correspondent Mark Lowen from Istanbul, having taken him from his hotel the previous day and detained him for 17 hours.”

Lowen was handed a notice saying he was being deported for “being a threat to public order”.

Mr Lowen said:

“To be detained and deported from the country where I previously lived for five years, and for which I have such affection, has been extremely distressing.

“Press freedom and impartial reporting are fundamental to any democracy.”

Deborah Turness, the chief executive of BBC News, said:

“This is an extremely troubling incident and we will be making representations to the Turkish authorities.

“Mark is a very experienced correspondent with a deep knowledge of Turkey.

“No journalist should face this kind of treatment simply for doing their job.

“We will continue to report impartially and fairly on events in Turkey.”

Demonstrations started in the capital after Mr Imamoglu was about to be named as the opposition CHP party’s candidate for the 2028 presidential election.

He is seen as the only man who can beat Mr Erdogan at the ballot box.

The protests have spread to more than 55 of the country’s 81 provinces.