A BBC journalist reporting on mass street protests in Turkiye has been arrested and deported in a move the broadcaster called "extremely troubling".
Mark Lowen had been in the country for several days covering widespread demonstrations after the arrest of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's main political rival and Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu.
The correspondent, who had previously lived in the country for five years, was arrested by Turkish police at his hotel in Istanbul and held for 17 hours before being issued with a notice describing him as a "threat to public order".
Mr Lowen said his expulsion was "extremely distressing", adding that press freedom was essential to democracy.
"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," he said.
In a statement, BBC News chief executive Deborah Turness said the deportation was "extremely troubling" and that the broadcaster would raise the issue with the Turkiye's 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," she said.
"We will continue to report impartially and fairly on events in Turkey."
The expulsion of the BBC reporter came as Turkiye's media watchdog, the Radio and Television Supreme Council, imposed fines on four domestic broadcasters over their coverage of the arrest of Mr Imamoglu.
Sanctions were issued against programmes aired on pro-opposition channels SZC TV, Tele1, and Halk TV as well as NOW TV, for alleged violations.
Additionally, SZC TV was ordered to halt broadcasting for 10 days, with RTUK warning that a third violation could result in the revocation of its licence.
The arrest of Mr Imamoglu, who is considered to be the biggest political challenger to President Tayyip Erdogan, has prompted mass demonstrations on the streets of major cities for the past week.
Protests continue despite arrests
On Thursday, Turkiye's Interior Ministry Ali Kerikaya said 1,879 people were detained in relation to the protests over eight days.
He said some of those arrested faced drug and assault charges, and that more than 150 police officers had been injured.
Demonstrations involving hundreds of thousands of largely peaceful protesters have swept across major cities, including opposition-organised rallies outside Istanbul City Hall.
Other major protests have been held in Istanbul’s districts of Kadikoy and Sisli districts in recent days.
On Thursday, police used pepper spray, plastic pellets and water cannons against protesters in Istanbul.
Melih Meric, a legislator with Imamoglu's Republican People's Party or CHP, was seen soaked with water and suffering from pepper spray exposure.
"My student friends only wanted to make a press statement, but the police strictly did not allow it, this is the result," Mr Meric said in social media videos.
ABC/AP/Reuters
