Media captionIWPR Executive Director Anthony Borden: "We want to make sure that an in depth, detailed, forensic investigation is undertaken"BBC correspondent Ben Ando said Ms Sutton arrived at Ataturk
Airport on a flight from London on Saturday and had a two-hour wait for
a connecting flight, which she apparently missed.
"Local media
are reporting that she didn't have enough money to purchase a
replacement ticket and then she was found dead in the toilets a couple
of hours later," he added.
"What exactly happened though is not known."
Image caption
Ms Sutton was found dead at Istanbul's Ataturk airport
The London-based IWPR supports local journalism in countries affected by conflict and crisis.
Its previous Iraq director Ammar Al Shahbander was killed in a car bomb attack in Baghdad on 2 May and a memorial service was held for him in London last week, according to the IWPR website. Ms Sutton had been in London attending the service.
Friends and colleagues have described their shock at her death - which was reported as suicide by Turkish media outlets.
Executive director Anthony Borden called for an "open and transparent" investigation into her death.
Mr
Borden told BBC Radio 4's World at One programme Ms Sutton "had a very
positive nature and outlook, and very significant work to get on with".
In
a statement, he added: "She was extremely bright, highly competent, and
well able to handle herself in difficult environments, and she was
universally loved. We are in total shock."
Ms Sutton's sister is
travelling to Istanbul with an IWPR employee to meet with British and
Turkish officials, the organisation confirmed.
'Remarkable contributions'
Ms
Sutton had been studying for a PhD at the Centre for Arab and Islamic
Studies at the Australian National University. Her research focused on
international development support to female media professionals in Iraq
and Afghanistan between 2003 and 2013.
Centre director Prof Amin
Saikal said they were "deeply saddened and shocked by the tragic death
of one of its brilliant PhD students".
Prof Saikal said: "She was
not only an outstanding research scholar, but a highly valued friend and
colleague who made remarkable contributions to the work and activities
of the centre."
Ms Sutton worked for the BBC World Service between 1998 and 2000, reporting from Africa, the Middle East and London.
She also served in senior roles at the United Nations.
