Jailed Istanbul Mayor Imamoglu X account shocking blocked in Turkey amid legal crackdown
Access to the social media account of Istanbul’s jailed mayor, Ekrem Imamoglu, was restricted on X within Turkey on Thursday, following a legal order tied to a controversial post made in April. The move, coming weeks after Imamoglu’s arrest on corruption charges he denies, has sparked new concerns over digital censorship and the state of political freedom in the country.
The restriction was confirmed by a message that appeared on Imamoglu’s X profile, stating the account was “withheld in TR in response to a legal demand.” While the account remains visible in other countries, Turkish users were blocked from viewing his posts. Imamoglu’s X account has nearly 10 million followers and had remained active even after his arrest.
Four days after being captured on March 19, the 53-year-old mayor was placed in jail pending trial. Both he and his partners dismiss the corruption allegation as politically propelled. Critics claimed the government was utilizing the legal as a weapon to smother opposition members, and his detainment incited a few of the greatest public demonstrations in Turkey in more than 10 years.
The legal demand to block Imamoglu’s X account reportedly stems from a post he published on April 24. In that post, he condemned what he called the “unjust crackdown” on political opponents and urged the public to “raise your voice.” Turkish prosecutors claimed the message could be seen as incitement to commit a crime.
In response to the court’s decision, Turkish attorney Gonenc Gurkaynak announced on X that he is filing an appeal on behalf of Imamoglu, noting that the request came directly from the platform. Human rights groups and digital freedom advocates have also spoken out, calling the block a dangerous signal of growing online censorship in Turkey.
Engelli Web, a local group monitoring internet restrictions, confirmed the access ban and stated that the move was carried out under broad interpretations of national security and public order.
Even before his imprisonment, Imamoglu, a prominent part of the Republican People’s Party (CHP), was rising in popularity according to surveys. Public support for him has increased since his arrest, making him an imposing opponent of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in the 2028 elections.
Imamoglu was nominated by his party as their presidential candidate while being imprisoned; his supporters see this as a challenge to Turkey’s breaking of democratic space. However, the government disputes any political meddling in the case and demands that the legal function operate independently.
As the investigation and legal process continue, critics argue that silencing a political opponent’s voice on a major global platform like X only adds to growing fears about freedom of speech and fair opposition in Turkey.
Image: EPA-EFE/ERDEM SAHIN
