A BBC reporter has been deported from Turkey after covering protests against the arrest of a leading opposition figure.

Correspondent Mark Lowen had only been in the country for several days to report on the unrest sparked by the detention of Ekrem Imamoglu on corruption charges when he was detained.

Mr Imamoglu, who is seen as the main political rival of Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Turkey’s president, has denied wrongdoing.

A BBC spokesman said: “This morning [March 27] the Turkish authorities deported BBC News correspondent Mark Lowen from Istanbul, having taken him from his hotel the previous day and detained him for 17 hours.”

It came after he was presented with a written notice stating he was being deported for “being a threat to public order,” the corporation added.

Mr Lowen said: “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.

“Press freedom and impartial reporting are fundamental to any democracy.”