Turkish authorities detain, injure and deport journalists covering 2025 protests
Turkish authorities detained at least 13 journalists, injured at least 14 in beatings or with rubber bullets, and deported at least one foreign correspondent while covering protests following the detention of Istanbul's mayor in March 2025.1
- Country
- Türkiye
- Where
- Türkiye
- Level of government
- National
- Tactic
- Detention and violence
- Outcome
- Unknown
- Era
- The 2020s
What happened
Following the March 2025 detention of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, Turkish authorities moved to suppress coverage of the resulting protests. Between March 19 and March 28, 2025, at least 13 journalists were detained, including reporter Ismail Saymaz, detained at home on March 19, and photojournalist Zisan Gur, detained while covering protests on March 23. At least 14 journalists were injured by beatings or rubber bullets during protest coverage between March 21 and 23. BBC correspondent Mark Lowen was detained and deported on March 27. The Committee to Protect Journalists, in an April 2, 2025 report, said Turkish authorities had "arrested thousands of protesters and have moved aggressively to tamp down media coverage" of the demonstrations.1234
CPJ's documentation as of April 2025 described the detentions and restrictions on media coverage as ongoing amid mass protester arrests.4
What reason was given
Turkish authorities cited accusations of corruption against Istanbul's opposition-controlled municipal government as the basis for the underlying restrictions on Imamoglu and, by extension, on protest coverage.2
What changed for reporting
Journalists covering the protests faced detention, physical injury and, in Lowen's case, deportation, restricting on-the-ground coverage of the demonstrations and their policing.3
Timeline
2025
Who acted
| Name | Role in this incident | Office at the time |
|---|---|---|
| Government of Turkiye | enforced | National government |
Outlets and journalists
| Name | Kind | Relation |
|---|---|---|
| BBC | outlet | affected |
| Mark Lowen | journalist, BBC | affected |
Sources
Claims cited
- Restrictions on journalists covering the protests began with Ismail Saymaz's detention.
On March 19, police detained freelance reporter and TV commentator İsmail Saymaz at his house in Istanbul.
Journalists in Turkey arrested, beaten, deported amid government crackdown on opposition, Committee to Protect Journalists, 2025-04-02. Claim 86, checked 2026-09-22. - Authorities cited corruption allegations against the CHP-controlled Istanbul municipality as the basis for the underlying restrictions.
accusations of corruption
Journalists in Turkey arrested, beaten, deported amid government crackdown on opposition, Committee to Protect Journalists, 2025-04-02. Claim 87, checked 2026-09-22. - CPJ documented detentions, beatings and the deportation of BBC's Mark Lowen among journalists covering the protests.
authorities have since arrested thousands of protesters and have moved aggressively to tamp down media coverage
Journalists in Turkey arrested, beaten, deported amid government crackdown on opposition, Committee to Protect Journalists, 2025-04-02. Claim 88, checked 2026-09-22. - CPJ's report described the restrictions as continuing amid mass arrests of protesters.
press freedom advocates are concerned that authorities are deliberately targeting them to suppress coverage
Journalists in Turkey arrested, beaten, deported amid government crackdown on opposition, Committee to Protect Journalists, 2025-04-02. Claim 89, checked 2026-09-22.