Press Freedom Under Siege: BBC Correspondent Expelled Amid Turkey Protests

Turkish authorities deported BBC News correspondent Mark Lowen, branding him a 'threat to public order', amid mass protests over Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu's arrest. BBC CEO Deborah Turness called the deportation 'extremely troubling'. Press freedom concerns rise, as broadcaster SZC TV faces a 10-day shutdown.

BBC News correspondent Mark Lowen was deported by Turkish authorities after being held for 17 hours, labeled a "threat to public order." Lowen's expulsion comes amid heightened tensions due to the arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, which has sparked mass protests against the government.

BBC News CEO Deborah Turness criticized the deportation, describing it as "extremely troubling," and affirmed her intention to address the issue with Turkish authorities. Lowen, who has lived in Turkey for five years, remarked that press freedom is vital for democracy and termed his expulsion "extremely distressing."

The arrest of Imamoglu, who denies corruption charges, has fueled the largest anti-government protests in Turkey in recent years, leading to the detention of about 1,900 individuals. Turkey's media watchdog, the Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTUK), fined four broadcasters over their coverage of Imamoglu's arrest, and SZC TV faces a 10-day suspension.

(With inputs from agencies.)