X said it will comply with an Istanbul court order to block access in Turkey to jailed Istanbul mayor Ekrem Imamoglu's presidential candidacy office account, but has launched legal proceedings to contest the decision. The account cited in the order has about 225,700 followers and was restricted on grounds of national security and public order. Imamoglu, detained on March 19, 2025, faces multiple charges he denies and was named his party's presidential candidate days after his arrest; his main X account was previously blocked in Turkey in May 2025.
X to Block Access in Turkey to Istanbul Mayor Imamoglu’s Campaign Account Under Court Order — Will Mount Legal Challenge
Istanbul Mayor Imamoglu addresses his supporters in front of the Caglayan Courthouse
Social media platform X said on Tuesday it will comply with a Turkish court order to block access inside Turkey to the jailed Istanbul mayor Ekrem Imamoglu's presidential candidacy office account, while simultaneously launching legal action to contest the ruling.
Court Order and Platform Response
A copy of the Istanbul court order published by X directed the platform to restrict the account — which X said has roughly 225,700 followers — citing the need to protect national security and public order. X said Turkish law obliged it to implement the restriction but that it disagreed with the court's reasoning and has initiated proceedings to challenge the order.
Background: Imamoglu's Detention And Candidacy
Police detained Imamoglu, a leading opponent of President Tayyip Erdogan, on March 19, 2025. His arrest triggered the largest protests in Turkey in more than a decade. Imamoglu remains in custody awaiting trial on multiple charges, including graft, espionage and terrorism, allegations he vehemently denies.
Days after his detention, the Republican People's Party (CHP) selected Imamoglu as its presidential candidate in an internal vote. Istanbul University annulled his university diploma one day before his arrest, a development that has complicated his candidacy because a diploma is typically required for presidential contenders.
Previous Restrictions And Free-Speech Context
In a related move, Imamoglu's main X account, which had nearly 10 million followers, was blocked inside Turkey in May 2025 under a similar court order; X also filed a legal challenge against that restriction. Under owner Elon Musk, X often promotes itself as a defender of free speech, while saying it complies with valid local laws in the countries where it operates and sometimes seeks to overturn restrictive orders through the courts.
Reporting: This account is based on reporting from Reuters. X has published a copy of the court order and confirmed it is pursuing legal recourse.
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