X Defies Turkish Order to Block Presidential Campaign Account
Turkish authorities have ordered X to restrict access to jailed Istanbul mayor Ekrem Imamoglu's campaign account, citing national security and public order. X is complying with the order but has begun legal proceedings to have it overturned.
Key points
- X has been ordered by a Turkish court to restrict access to Ekrem Imamoglu's campaign account, citing national security and public order.
- The account, with 225,000 followers, served as Imamoglu's campaign channel while he was in prison.
- Imamoglu, a rival of President Erdogan, was detained in March 2025 on corruption, espionage, and terrorism charges, which he denies.
- X is complying with the order but has begun legal proceedings to have it overturned, disagreeing with the restriction.
- The Turkish government has used similar justifications to block prominent accounts on the platform in the past.
X Defies Turkish Order to Block Presidential Campaign Account
Turkish authorities have ordered X to restrict access to jailed Istanbul mayor Ekrem Imamoglu's campaign account, citing national security and public order. X is complying with the order but has begun legal proceedings to have it overturned.
The move has sparked concerns about freedom of speech and censorship in Turkey. Imamoglu's campaign account had gained significant traction, with over 225,000 followers, and served as a key channel for his presidential bid.
Imamoglu's detention in March 2025 on corruption, espionage, and terrorism charges has been widely seen as an attempt to remove a serious electoral threat to President Erdogan. The charges against him are denied, and his supporters argue that the prosecution is an effort to silence a prominent opposition figure.
The Turkish government has used similar justifications to block prominent accounts on the platform in the past, raising concerns about the erosion of online freedoms in the country.
Sources
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