A BBC News correspondent has been deported from Turkey after being detained for around 17 hours, the corporation has said.
Mark Lowen had been in the country to report on widespread protests over the arrest of Istanbul’s mayor, Ekrem Imamoglu.
The BBC said authorities had accused Mr Lowen of “being a threat to public order” and had taken him from his hotel on Wednesday before making him leave the country via Istanbul on Thursday morning.
Image: Ekrem Imamoglu is seen as a challenger to President Erdogan. Pic: AP
The correspondent 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.”
At least 10 journalists have been detained while covering the protests, including Yasin Akgul, a photographer for France’s AFP agency.
However, Turkey’s Media and Law Studies Association said on Thursday that Mr Akgul and six others had now been released.
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BBC News chief Deborah Turness called Mr Lowen’s deportation “extremely troubling” and said “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,” she added.
Turkey’s directorate of communications said Lowen had not gained accreditation to report from the country.
It in a statement, it said he had “travelled to Istanbul and reported without prior notification to, or accreditation from, our directorate”.
It added: “As a result, administrative action was taken against him. Unfounded claims aimed at manipulating public opinion should not be given credit.”
Image: Riot police use pepper spray on a protester in Istanbul on 23 March. Pic: AP
Police have used rubber bullets and water cannon on demonstrators in Turkey, who say Mr Imamoglu is being politically persecuted to stop his bid to oust President Erdogan in the next election in 2028.
He’s seen as a challenger to the long-time leader and protests have taken place in cities across Turkey, including the capital Ankara.
More than 1,800 people have been detained in Turkey over the last week, according to the government, which accuses Mr Imamoglu of corruption and “managing a criminal organisation”.
If convicted, he would not be able to stand for president.
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5:52 ‘They’re firing rubber bullets at us’
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Turkey’s media watchdog has also imposed a 10-day blackout on opposition television channel Sozcu TV for “inciting hate and enmity” during its coverage of the demonstrations.
Three other opposition channels are facing fines.
Campaign group Reporters without Borders ranks Turkey 158 out of 180 countries on press freedom.
It says “all possible means are used to undermine critics” and that 90% of national media is under government control.
