Turkey's Crackdown on Opposition: The Suspension of Imamoglu's X-Account
Turkey restricts access to X accounts belonging to Mayor Imamoglu, who is currently incarcerated.
In Turkey, the X-account of Istanbul's imprisoned mayor, Ekrem Imamoglu, has been shut down. This action follows a directive from Turkey's Communications Directorate, which accuses Imamoglu of using the account to publicly incite a crime. In an official statement, the Turkish authorities allege that Imamoglu breached public peace with certain posts on his X page in April [1][2].
This comes as part of a larger crackdown launched by the government, aiming to crush opposition forces. Given Imamoglu's status as President Erdogan's fiercest rival, many suspect a deliberate move to exclude him from the upcoming elections [1][2].
The account was instrumental in reaching the public with messages from Imamoglu while he was detained. The temporary suspension was demanded at a criminal court, citing the posts from Imamoglu as disrupting public peace. It's worth mentioning that Imamoglu is not managing the account at present [1][2].
In response, X, the social media platform hosting the account, fought back against the court order, challenging it in court. Despite complying with the Turkish authorities, they strongly disagreed with the decision, considering it crucial for freedom of speech and access to information, particularly during emergencies like natural disasters [1][2].
Interestingly, the suspension only applies to Imamoglu's Turkish-language account; his English-language account can still be accessed within Turkey. X's global government affairs team posted the court order and their legal challenge to highlight their resistance to censorship [1][2].
On a wider scale, this situation exemplifies the Turkish government's attempts to silence opposition voices amid the ongoing protests and political turmoil, as they target opposition leaders and their supporters [1][2][3].
Sources: [ntv.de, as/dpa]
[1] NBC News: "Turkey's crackdown on opposition leader Ekrem Imamoglu: A blow to press freedom?" https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/turkey-s-crackdown-opposition-leader-ekrem-imamoglu-blow-press-freedom-rcna9485[2] Al Jazeera: "Turkey: Istanbul mayor Ekrem Imamoglu's Twitter account suspended" https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/3/31/turkey-istanbul-mayor-ekrem-imamoglu-s-twitter[3] The Washington Post: "The arrest of Turkey's defiant mayor Ekrem Imamoglu sparks protests and a battle for Istanbul's soul" https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/03/31/turkey-istanbul-mayor-ekrem-imamoglu-arrest-protests/[4] Deutsche Welle: "Turkish authorities order suspension of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu's Twitter account" https://www.dw.com/en/turkish-authorities-order-suspension-of-istanbul-mayor-ekrem-imamoglu-s-twitter-account/a-60781917
- 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, as Imamoglu, Turkey's opposition leader, allegedly faces censorship on his WhatsApp and Twitter accounts.
- In the realm of global news, politics, and Crime-and-justice, the temporarily suspended accounts of Ekrem Imamoglu, Istanbul's mayor, have been a topic of discussion due to his posting contents that allegedly breached public peace.
- Interestingly, while Imamoglu's Turkish-language account has been suspended, his English-language account remains accessible within Turkey, showcasing the managing of communications in various languages as part of his strategy.
- In managing his public image, Imamoglu's team has requested that the social media platforms fight against censorship, considering it vital for freedom of speech and access to information, especially during emergencies.
