MEMBER STATEMENT

BBC statement on detention and deportation of Mark Lowen

27th March 2025
BBC news correspondent Mark Lowen, who was reporting on the recent protest in Istambul, was deported by Turkish authorities after being detained in line of his work. 
BBC
Image: Tim Loudon/Creative Commons

This press release was originally published by the BBC

This morning (27 March) 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. Mark Lowen was in Turkey to report on the recent protests. He has been told he was deported for ‘being a threat to public order’.

BBC News CEO Deborah Turness 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 and 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.”

On arrival to London this morning (27 March), Mark 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.”

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