BBC Journalist Deported During Turkey Protests

Turkey has deported BBC journalist Mark Lowen, who was covering mass protests against the arrest of Istanbul's mayor, Ekrem Imamoglu, a key political rival to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Lowen was detained for 17 hours and branded a 'threat to public order,' a move the BBC described as 'extremely troubling.' The protests, which began after Imamoglu's arrest on alleged corruption charges, have led to the detention of nearly 1,900 people. Turkish authorities have also targeted domestic media, imposing broadcast bans and fines on opposition channels. Rights groups have condemned the crackdown on journalists, with several Turkish reporters temporarily detained during the protests. The BBC plans to challenge Lowen's deportation, while emphasizing the importance of press freedom in democracy.