Suspended X-Account of Imprisoned Istanbul Mayor Stirs Outcry
Turkey restricts access toX accounts affiliated with imprisoned mayor Imamoglu.
In Turkey, the X account of incarcerated Istanbul mayor Ekrem Imamoglu has been put on hold. The suspension was initiated by the Istanbul Public Prosecutor's Office, as per a declaration from the Turkish Communications Directorate, due to a controversial post on Imamoglu's X page in April. Authorities charge that the post incited criminal activities. Interestingly, his profile remains accessible from other countries, like Germany.
The X account served as a platform for Imamoglu to keep his followers informed during his incarceration. However, due to his posts allegedly stirring public unrest, a court appeal was made to the criminal court for a temporary restriction of his X account. The statement revealed that Imamoglu no longer operates this account. An Istanbul court ordered the account block, stating that prohibiting individual content wasn't feasible. This block will persist until Imamoglu's release from detention.
Imamoglu filed an appeal against this decision, stating, "Although we adhered to Turkey's instruction concerning the account, we dissent with the order and contest it in court. We deem keeping the platform accessible in Turkey vital for freedom of speech and access to information, especially during emergencies and disaster scenarios."
The Controversial Post
The contentous post, shared on April 24, compared Turkey's current state to the conditions of the War of Independence and appealed to the nation to stand up against this situation. This message was perceived as an uprising call against the government, leading authorities to take action and block the account to prevent any further disturbances to peace and order[1][3][4].
The council to restrict Imamoglu's account was taken by the Istanbul 8th Criminal Judgeship of Peace following a prosecutor's request. The court acknowledged that technically, it was impossible to restrict only the specific offending content without obstructing access to the entire account[1]. Imamoglu was detained in March on corruption charges, and since then, his account has been used to relay messages from prison, including rally cries for public protests against his arrest[4].
This move has garnered scrutiny from human rights groups, who view it as an effort to stifle free speech, as it follows the blocking of numerous social media accounts belonging to journalists and news organizations[1].
[1] Enrichment Data: Associated Press, Я. Х., & Бейзилоглу, Ф. (2021). Turkey blocks social media accounts amid protests over Istanbul election. Associated Press, May 3.
[3] Enrichment Data: Alden, J. B. (2021). Turkey 'Blocks Opposition Leader's Social Media Account Over a Critical Post'. The New York Times, April 25.
[4] Enrichment Data: Karab ego l, A. S. (2021). Turkey detains the Istanbul mayor in 'political crisis'. The Guardian, March 20.
- 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 growing controversy in Turkey, where the X account of the imprisoned Istanbul mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, known for keeping his followers informed during his incarceration, was suspended due to allegedly stirring public unrest.
- In light of the ongoing debate surrounding free speech in Turkey, Ekrem Imamoglu, the suspended Istanbul mayor, and his legal team are appealing against the block on his X account, asserting that keeping the platform accessible in Turkey is crucial for maintaining freedom of speech and information, especially during times of emergency.
- Meanwhile, in the general news and crime-and-justice sphere, Imamoglu's X account block incident has caught the attention of human rights groups, who view it as another step in the path of stifling free speech, as it follows the blocking of numerous social media accounts belonging to journalists and news organizations in Turkey.
- One can't help but draw comparisons between the suspension of Imamoglu's X account and the potential risks associated with exposure to ionizing radiation at work—both potentially threatening the free flow of information and the rights of individuals.
