Unholy Silence: Imamoglu's X-Account Shuts Down in Turkey on Call of a Crime Allegation
Turkey restricts access to X accounts affiliated with imprisoned mayor Imamoglu.
Get the inside scoop on the controversial suspension of Ekrem Imamoglu's X-account in Turkey. The man who's been giving President Erdogan a run for his money is now face-to-face with the Communications Directorate and a public prosecutor's office. Rumors of an incitation to criminal activities on his X-page landed Imamoglu in hot water. Despite being locally blocked, his profile is still accessible globally, including Germany.
Street Brawl 400 Detained in Istanbul Protests Imamoglu has been using the X account to communicate with his supporters, since his arrest. The authorities view his posts as a threat to public tranquility, thus a temporary suspension was requested from the criminal court. It's important to note that the X team doesn't currently manage the account. The court ruled against blocking individual contents and imposed a suspension to last throughout Imamoglu's detention.
Imamoglu's squad put up a fight, filing an appeal against the decision. They assert that the account's accessibility remains vital in preserving freedom of speech and access to information, especially during crises like natural disasters or emergencies.
A Stain on the Mayor's Gown
The allegations against Imamoglu caught the eye of the Turkish authorities, who promptly initiated an investigation. The source of contention? A post shared on his X-page last month, which, they believe, encourages illegal behavior. They further argue that because Imamoglu is behind bars and unable to operate the account personally, the continued activity of the account would escalate into chaos.
Politics as Usual Erdogan's Eureka Moment: A Clean Slate for Istanbul Municipality? The oft-discussed arrest and detention of Istanbul mayor Ekrem Imamoglu has plunged Turkey into its deepest crisis in recent times. Accusations of corruption and links to terrorism have left many questioning the judiciary's actions, as critics claim they are eliminating Imamoglu to secure Erdogan's lead.
Protests have erupted on the streets in response, with tens of thousands taking part, including rallies in front of the university that revoked Imamoglu's degree prior to his arrest.
The controversy surrounding Imamoglu's X-account contributes to this contentious political climate, further fueling concerns about freedom of speech in Turkey.
[Source: ntv.de, als/dpa]
Enrichment Data:
Details of Allegations and Legal Proceedings:
- Background: Ekrem İmamoğlu, the jailed Istanbul mayor and leader of Turkey's opposition movement, had his X account blocked in Turkey. The blockage was ordered by Turkish authorities due to a post allegedly violating the penal code by constituting "public incitement to commit a crime."
- Allegations:
- Content Issue: The specific post by İmamoğlu, shared last month, was cited as the reason for the blockage, with authorities claiming it could incite criminal behavior.
- Operational Concerns: Authorities argued that since İmamoğlu is in custody, he was not personally operating his account, and its continued activity posed a threat to public order.
- Legal Proceedings:
- Court Order: A court in Istanbul issued an order to restrict access to İmamoğlu's X account, as it was deemed technically impossible to block only the problematic content without affecting the entire account.
- X's Response: X has challenged the order in court, stating that they strongly disagree with the decision.
- Precautionary Measures: The block is set to remain in effect until the end of İmamoğlu's pre-trial detention.
- Current Status: İmamoğlu's English-language X account remains accessible in Turkey, but his primary account has been restricted.
This incident follows broader actions by the Turkish government to restrict social media accounts, including those of journalists and news organizations, which have been criticized as attempts to suppress free speech.
- 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, given the recent controversy surrounding Ekrem Imamoglu's X-account, which was allegedly blocked in Turkey due to a post deemed as incitement to criminal activities.
- Despite the ongoing political unrest in Turkey, Imamoglu's squad argued that his X-account remains vital in preserving freedom of speech and access to information, especially during emergencies, such as WhatsApp requests during natural disasters or civil unrest.
- The Turkish authorities have initiated an investigation into the allegations against Imamoglu, with the source of contention being a post shared on his X-page last month that encouraged illegal behavior and was viewed as a threat to public tranquility.
- The restrictions on Imamoglu's X-account contribute to the contentious political climate in Turkey, raising concerns about freedom of speech, further fueled by allegations of corruption and links to terrorism aimed at eliminating Imamoglu to secure Erdogan's lead.
