BBC Journalist Mark Lowen's Detention and Deportation from Turkey During Protests

Mark Lowen shares his personal experience of being detained and deported by Turkish authorities while reporting on protests against the government in Istanbul. His account highlights the challenges faced by journalists in Turkey, particularly amidst a backdrop of escalating political unrest and shrinking press freedoms under President Erdogan.

Mark Lowen, a correspondent for the BBC, found himself in a precarious situation while covering anti-government protests in Istanbul. Just after expressing his joy at returning to Turkey, he received an unexpected phone call from hotel reception asking him to meet about an “urgent matter.” Upon arrival, Lowen was met by plain-clothed police officers who promptly requested his passport and took him away, attempting to block his colleagues from recording the incident.

Lowen had been in Turkey for three days, covering the protests triggered by the arrest of opposition mayor Ekrem Imamoglu. Initially held at police headquarters for seven hours, he encountered a mix of cordiality and responsibility from the officers, some of whom expressed their disagreement with the government decision to detain him. A measure of camaraderie was evident, with one officer even offering a hug in solidarity. However, trust began to wane as he was moved to a more imposing foreigners' custody unit, struggling with broken Turkish amid chain-smoking officers, and was denied access to legal counsel or communication with the outside world.

In the early hours, Lowen was informed that he was being deported, deemed “a threat to public order” without any substantial explanation. A police officer suggested filming an admission that he was leaving voluntarily, which Lowen declined, suspecting manipulation aimed at controlling the narrative to the government-friendly media. After being shifted to the airport’s custody department, various disturbances prevented him from sleeping as he awaited a flight back to London.

After almost 17 hours in detention, he was board a one-way flight. Post-deportation, the Turkish government attempted to justify the incident, claiming he lacked proper accreditation—a point never raised during his detention, indicating an after-the-fact rationale meant to legitimize their actions.

Despite the ordeal, Lowen reported that he was treated fairly throughout, recognizing the efforts of the BBC management and the British consulate in facilitating his release. He expressed concern for other journalists facing far worse fates in Turkey—a country notorious for its attacks on press freedom, ranked 158th out of 180 nations worldwide.

The protests, sparked by Imamoglu's arrest, have morphed into a broader dissent against the authoritarian regime, with President Erdogan dismissing dissenters’ calls for democracy as mere “street terrorism.” With Erdogan solidified by alliances and geopolitical relevance, the future of Turkey's protests remains uncertain, reflecting the resilience yet vulnerability of its democratic aspirations.