BBC News correspondent Mark Lowen has been deported from Turkey following his arrest in Istanbul on Wednesday, according to a statement from the BBC.

Lowen had been in the country reporting on widespread protests that erupted after Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu was arrested last week. Imamoglu, a prominent opposition figure and presidential candidate for the 2028 election, is facing corruption charges that he denies. Many view him as President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s main political rival.

In a statement released Thursday, the BBC said Turkish authorities removed Lowen from his hotel, held him for 17 hours, and then deported him, citing him as a "threat to public order."

Lowen, who previously lived in Turkey for five years, expressed his dismay:
"To be detained and deported from a country I know well and care deeply about has been extremely distressing. Press freedom and impartial journalism are vital to any democracy."

BBC News CEO Deborah Turness called the incident deeply concerning:
"Mark is a highly respected journalist with extensive knowledge of Turkey. No reporter should be treated this way for simply doing their job. We will raise this issue with the Turkish authorities and continue to report fairly on events in the country."

The protests over Imamoglu's detention have drawn thousands across Turkey, with over 1,400 people arrested so far. Demonstrators believe the charges are politically motivated, while Turkey’s justice ministry insists the judiciary is independent.

President Erdogan has condemned the protests, calling them "evil" and accusing the opposition of disrupting public order. Several journalists have also been detained, including members of local media and a photojournalist from Agence France-Presse. Many were released on Thursday.

While nightly demonstrations have tapered off, the main opposition party, CHP, plans to hold a major rally in Istanbul on Saturday. Photo by Dickelbers, Wikimedia commons.