​BBC Correspondent Arrested and Deported Amid Turkish Protests

ISTANBUL, Turkey - 28 March 2025

Mark Lowen, a seasoned BBC correspondent, was arrested and subsequently deported from Turkey on 27 March 2025. Lowen had been in Istanbul covering the widespread anti-government protests that erupted following the arrest of Istanbul's Mayor, Ekrem İmamoğlu. Turkish authorities cited Lowen as a "threat to public order" and detained him for 17 hours before deportation. ​

The protests, which began after Mayor İmamoğlu's detention on corruption charges—widely perceived as politically motivated—have led to the arrest of nearly 1,900 individuals across the country, including multiple journalists. The Turkish Journalists' Union reported that 11 journalists were detained earlier this week, with some facing charges related to participating in illegal rallies. ​

Deborah Turness, CEO of BBC News, expressed deep concern over Lowen's deportation, stating, "No journalist should face this kind of treatment simply for doing their job." Lowen himself remarked, "Press freedom and impartial reporting are fundamental to any democracy." ​

In addition to targeting journalists, Turkish authorities have imposed sanctions on media outlets. The Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTÜK) fined several broadcasters, including SZC TV, Tele1, and Halk TV, for their coverage of the protests. SZC TV faces a 10-day broadcast suspension, with the possibility of license revocation upon further violations. ​

International press freedom organizations have condemned these actions. Reporters Without Borders highlighted the arrests as indicative of increasing repression of press freedom in Turkey. The International Federation of Journalists also called for the immediate release of all detained journalists, emphasizing that journalism is not a crime. 

Image: ToprakM/Wikimedia Commons

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