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A Turkish court has rejected an appeal by BBC journalist Mark Lowen against his deportation and entry ban, barring him from entering the country until 2030 on grounds of being "a threat to national security," Lowen announced Thursday.
The BBC correspondent was detained and deported from Türkiye in 2024 while covering anti-government protests. Lowen and his legal team subsequently appealed the decision, but Turkish courts have now upheld both the deportation and the six-year entry prohibition.
"An update: after I was detained and deported from Turkey last year while covering anti-government protests, we appealed. The Turkish courts have rejected our appeal and I am banned from entering a country I know & love until 2030, called 'a threat to national security,'" Lowen wrote on social media. "A sad end."
Türkiye's Presidential Communications Directorate's Center for Combating Disinformation had dismissed allegations that Lowen's deportation was linked to his journalistic activities and coverage of protests, labeling such claims as disinformation.
In a statement issued in March 2025, the Center clarified that Lowen, a British journalist, had engaged in news activities in Istanbul without notifying the Presidency or applying for the required accreditation. According to Turkish authorities, permanent and temporary accreditation procedures for foreign press members are conducted in accordance with Articles 9, 39, and 40 of the Press Card Regulation.
"Administrative measures are taken against press members who fail to follow proper application procedures and engage in professional activities without authorization," the statement read. The Center emphasized that the deportation was an administrative action unrelated to Lowen's reporting, adding: "Please do not rely on unfounded allegations aimed at manipulating public opinion."
Lowen was detained for 17 hours before being deported on March 26, 2025. According to the BBC, Turkish authorities cited him as a "threat to public order" in a written deportation notice. The broadcaster described the move as "extremely troubling" and announced plans to raise concerns with Turkish officials.
The deportation occurred during widespread protests over the arrest of former Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, which drew thousands of demonstrators nationwide, with more than 1,400 people detained. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan condemned the unrest, accusing the opposition of attempting to destabilize the country.
Imamoglu was arrested on March 23, 2025, by an on-duty criminal court of peace as part of a corruption investigation into the Istanbul metropolitan municipality. The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office had launched investigations against Imamoglu and 99 other suspects on charges including leading a criminal organization, membership in a criminal organization, embezzlement, bribery, aggravated fraud, unlawful acquisition of personal data, and rigging public tenders.
The BBC has not yet issued a public statement regarding the court's decision to reject Lowen's appeal.
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