Social media platform X is challenging a Turkish court order to block access within Turkey to the presidential candidacy account of jailed Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, while simultaneously complying with the directive.
An Istanbul court mandated the restriction on Imamoglu's account, which boasts approximately 225,700 followers, citing national security and public order concerns. X confirmed its compliance with the court's order, as stipulated by Turkish law, but has initiated legal proceedings to contest the decision.
Imamoglu, a prominent political rival to President Tayyip Erdogan, was detained on March 19, 2025, leading to widespread protests. He remains incarcerated pending trial on multiple charges, including graft, espionage, and terrorism, allegations he vehemently denies. His election as the Republican People's Party's presidential candidate followed an internal vote days after his detention. Notably, his university diploma, a prerequisite for presidential candidacy, was invalidated by Istanbul University the day before his arrest.
This is not the first instance of such a restriction; Imamoglu's primary X account, with nearly 10 million followers, was blocked in Turkey in May 2025 under a similar court order. X also contested that prior order through legal channels, arguing against the restriction.
Under its owner Elon Musk, X has frequently positioned itself as a proponent of free speech. However, the platform maintains a policy of adhering to valid local laws in its operational countries while reserving the right to challenge certain court orders legally.
