**BBC Correspondent Mark Lowen's Unforeseen Deportation Amid Turkish Protests**

Mark Lowen, a BBC correspondent, has faced unexpected deportation from Turkey after reporting on the significant anti-government demonstrations ignited by the arrest of Ekrem Imamoglu, Istanbul's mayor. Having returned to Turkey, where he previously worked, Lowen felt a sense of nostalgia until the moment his hotel phone rang summoning him downstairs. Shortly thereafter, he found himself in the custody of plain-clothes police officers who cited a vague threat to public order as the reason for his detention, even as he maintained communication with colleagues and lawyers during his initial hours with them. Lowen's initial friendly encounters with police quickly waned during his transfer to the custody unit, where he was fingerprinted and denied outside communication. Ultimately, he was placed on a flight back to London after authorities claimed he lacked the appropriate accreditation. Despite his ordeal, Lowen recognized the support he received from the BBC and the British consulate, contrasting his experience with that of other journalists in Turkey, where press freedom remains severely restricted. As protests continue to escalate against President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's regime, the question remains whether the movement will gain sustained traction against the backdrop of a growing authoritarian state.

**BBC Correspondent Mark Lowen's Unforeseen Deportation Amid Turkish Protests**

BBC journalist Mark Lowen recounts his unexpected detention and deportation from Turkey while covering anti-government protests in Istanbul.

Mark Lowen, a BBC correspondent, has faced unexpected deportation from Turkey after reporting on the significant anti-government demonstrations ignited by the arrest of Ekrem Imamoglu, Istanbul's mayor. Having returned to Turkey, where he previously worked, Lowen felt a sense of nostalgia until the moment his hotel phone rang summoning him downstairs. Shortly thereafter, he found himself in the custody of plain-clothes police officers who cited a vague threat to public order as the reason for his detention, even as he maintained communication with colleagues and lawyers during his initial hours with them. Lowen's initial friendly encounters with police quickly waned during his transfer to the custody unit, where he was fingerprinted and denied outside communication. Ultimately, he was placed on a flight back to London after authorities claimed he lacked the appropriate accreditation. Despite his ordeal, Lowen recognized the support he received from the BBC and the British consulate, contrasting his experience with that of other journalists in Turkey, where press freedom remains severely restricted. As protests continue to escalate against President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's regime, the question remains whether the movement will gain sustained traction against the backdrop of a growing authoritarian state.