Turkey deports a foreign journalist as protests grow | DW News

Key Concepts:

• Deportation of BBC correspondent Mark Lowen
• Threat to public order as a justification for deportation
• Accreditation issues cited by Turkish authorities
• Anti-government protests in Turkey
• Sanctions against independent news TV stations
• Chilling effect on media freedom
• Risks for journalists reporting in Turkey
• Unclear guidelines for acceptable reporting
• President Erdoğan's response to protests
• Potential financial and political crisis
• Increased police presence and crackdown on protests
• Comparison to the 2013 Gezi Park protests

Deportation of Mark Lowen and Media Restrictions

• A BBC correspondent, Mark Lowen, was deported from Turkey after being arrested.
• Turkish authorities accused Lowen of being a threat to public order. The BBC stated they would address the issue with Turkish authorities.
• Turkey claimed Lowen was deported due to a lack of proper accreditation.
• Lowen had been reporting on significant anti-government protests triggered by the jailing of a rival to President Erdoğan.
• Several independent news TV stations faced unprecedented sanctions, including broadcasting bans and large fines, for their coverage of the unrest. One station was banned from broadcasting for 10 days.
• These actions are seen as sending a chilling message to both foreign and domestic media regarding coverage of the unrest.

The Environment for Journalists in Turkey

• Dorian Jones, a Turkey correspondent, described the mood among journalists as one of shock due to Lowen's deportation.
• Lowen had been reporting in Turkey for five years and was well-known within the journalist community and the wider Turkish media.
• The manner of Lowen's deportation, including being held for 17 hours, has caused significant concern.
• Reporting in Turkey has had its "ups and downs," with Turkey previously being the "worst jailer of journalists in the world."
• While many journalists have been released, the job remains difficult, especially for independent media.
• Journalists are still being arrested, with several detained during the latest unrest and facing serious charges.
• There is a growing feeling that things will become more difficult for journalists in the coming days.
• It is unclear what constitutes acceptable reporting for the Turkish authorities, creating a challenging environment for journalists. There are no clear guidelines on covering protests.
• The deportation of a prominent figure like Mark Lowen has heightened concerns about reporting in Turkey.

President Erdoğan's Response to Protests

• There is an expectation that President Erdoğan is determined to end the protests quickly due to both political and financial threats.
• Financial markets have been negatively impacted, and there is a fear of a combined financial and political crisis if the unrest continues.
• There is a significant increase in police presence, including civilian police and armored vehicles, particularly in areas of opposition.
• Student protests have been quickly suppressed.
• Erdoğan has announced a 9-day holiday, which will force many students to return home due to dormitory closures, potentially providing an opportunity for a further crackdown.

Comparison to Past Protests

• The 2013 Gezi Park protests were described as the closest Erdoğan came to being ousted from power.
• The current protests are concerning because they are occurring across Turkey, including in traditionally pro-Erdoğan areas.
• Erdoğan's fear is a nationwide protest, which this movement was potentially becoming.
• Authorities are attempting to stop the protests in their tracks.

Notable Quotes:

• Dorian Jones: "...it's really unclear what is acceptable reporting and what is unacceptable for the Turkish authorities...you're walking a rope but in the dark."
• Dorian Jones: "...the fact that someone as prominent as BBC cores Mark Lo being supported I think has ratcheted up the the bar in terms of the concerns about reporting in this country"

Technical Terms and Concepts:

• Accreditation: Official authorization or approval for a journalist to work in a particular country.
• Deportation: The expulsion of a person from a country.
• Public Order: The state of peace and security within a society.
• Sanctions: Penalties or restrictions imposed on a country or organization.
• Chilling Effect: The inhibition or discouragement of the legitimate exercise of a legal right by the threat of legal sanction.
• Remand: The act of sending a case back to a lower court for further action.

Synthesis/Conclusion:

The deportation of BBC correspondent Mark Lowen and the sanctions against independent media outlets in Turkey highlight a concerning trend of increasing restrictions on press freedom. The Turkish government's actions are creating a chilling effect on journalists, making it difficult to report on anti-government protests and other sensitive issues. President Erdoğan's determination to quell the unrest, coupled with the potential for a financial crisis, suggests that the situation for journalists in Turkey may worsen in the coming days. The lack of clear guidelines for acceptable reporting further exacerbates the risks faced by both domestic and foreign media.