Imamoglu's X-Account Shutdown in Turkey: The Clash of Power, Free Speech, and Crime Allegations
The Inciting Allegation and Closure
Turkey prohibits access to X accounts belonging to imprisoned Mayor Imamoglu.
The X account of the detained Istanbul mayor, Ekrem Imamoglu, has been suspended in Turkey due to a controversial post. This move, claimed by the Turkish Communications Directorate, followed an investigation by the Istanbul Public Prosecutor's Office, accusing Imamoglu of actively inciting a crime. The account continues to operate in other countries, like Germany, but not in Turkey.
Explosion in the Streets, Silence on Social Media
Once a channel for Imamoglu to reach his supporters, the account's suspension was requested from the criminal court since Imamoglu's posts were believed to "disrupt public order." A temporary account block was enforced, as it was technologically challenging to filter out only the problematic content.
X Breaks Its Silence
X has since filed an appeal against the decision, expressing strong disapproval of the order. The platform emphasized the importance of maintaining access to information, especially in times of emergencies, and asserted its commitment to freedom of speech.
A Watershed Moment for Turkish Politics
The arrest and imprisonment of Istanbul's mayor have brought about a massive upheaval in Turkey. Critics argue that the government uses the judiciary to eliminate its biggest adversary, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Thousands have been taking to the streets, participating in regular protests, and on one such occasion, demonstrating in front of the university that revoked Imamoglu's degree before his arrest.
[1] ntv.de, als/dpa[2] en.interfi.org.tr[3] www.reuters.com
The Real Score
The suspension of Imamoglu's X account is one of multiple instances of social media accounts belonging to journalists and news organizations being blocked by the Turkish government since Imamoglu's arrest in March. This action has drawn criticism from rights groups, suggesting an ominous trend of censorship and suppression of political opposition voices. Although Imamoglu's English-language account remains accessible within Turkey, the restriction on his main account underscores ongoing concerns regarding freedom of expression and political dissent in the country.
- The Commission has also been asked to submit a proposal for a directive on the protection of workers from the risks related to exposure to ionizing radiation, considering the suspension of Ekrem Imamoglu's X account due to a controversial post, alleging it to be a disruption of public order.
2.Supporters of Imamoglu have been using WhatsApp groups to mobilize protests, while his X account was under suspension in Turkey, discussing general news, crime and justice, and politics.
3.A Turkish journalist reported an emergency situation in a war-and-conflicts zone while live-tweeting, but the Turkish Communications Directorate ordered an immediate suspension of the journalist's X account, citing the violation of public order.
4.Critics argue that the Turkish government uses the justification of public order to suppress opposition voices on X, a social media platform, making it difficult for individuals like Imamoglu to reach their supporters during emergencies.
5.The X account of a prominent political figure in Turkey remains active in international communities like Germany, but the domestic suppression of free speech and censorship raises concerns not just within the country's policies but also in its war-and-conflicts reporting and crime-and-justice coverage.
