Archive · 5 Aug 2026
X challenges Turkish court order blocking Imamoglu candidacy account
In Turkey, a judge told a website called X to hide an account belonging to Ekrem Imamoglu.
He is the mayor of Istanbul, a big city in Turkey.
Ekrem wants to run for president, but he has been in jail since March 2025.
The court said hiding his special campaign account helps keep the country safe and calm.
X does not think the order is fair, so it is complaining to a higher court.
But for now, X must follow the rule because Turkish law says so.
If X says no, the whole website might get slowed down or blocked in Turkey.
X was already told to hide another account of Ekrem's before, back in May 2025.
X says it cares about free speech, but it also has to obey local laws.
A Turkish court ordered X to block access in Turkey to jailed Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu's presidential candidacy office account, citing national security and public order.
X said it is complying with the order under Turkish law but is challenging it in court, sharing the court order publicly for transparency.
The blocked candidacy account had about 225,700 followers, while Imamoglu's main X account with nearly 10 million followers was restricted under a similar order in May 2025.
Imamoglu, President Tayyip Erdogan's main political rival, has been jailed since March 19, 2025, on graft, espionage and terrorism charges he denies; his university diploma was annulled by Istanbul University a day before his detention.
X warned that failing to comply could lead to throttling of the entire platform in Turkey, and its legal challenge to the May 2025 order remains pending before Turkey's Constitutional Court.
- Who
- Ekrem Imamoglu, jailed Istanbul mayor and Republican People's Party (CHP) presidential candidate; President Tayyip Erdogan; the Istanbul 8th Criminal Judgeship of Peace; and X, the platform owned by Elon Musk.
- What
- A Turkish court ordered X to restrict access in Turkey to Imamoglu's presidential candidacy office account; X is complying but challenging the order in court.
- When
- Reported by Reuters on Aug 4, more than a year after Imamoglu's detention on March 19, 2025.
- Where
- Turkey, with the blocking order issued by a court in Istanbul.
- Why
- The court cited protection of national security and public order; X said it complies with Turkish law while disputing the order, partly to avoid having the entire platform throttled in Turkey.
Free speech advocates and Imamoglu supporters
Turkish authorities
Platform restriction and free expression
Free speech advocates and Imamoglu supporters
X says the order conflicts with free expression and due process, is challenging it in court, and shares the court order for transparency; it complies only so the whole platform is not throttled in Turkey.
Turkish authorities
The Istanbul 8th Criminal Judgeship of Peace ordered the restriction to protect national security and public order, and Turkish law requires social media platforms to implement such orders.
Motivation behind Imamoglu's prosecution
Free speech advocates and Imamoglu supporters
Imamoglu and his supporters call the corruption and espionage-related charges politically motivated, noting pressure from Erdogan's government and the ruling AK Party after the CHP's strong 2024 local election performance.
Turkish authorities
The cases are being handled through formal judicial processes, with Imamoglu on trial alongside hundreds of co-defendants on charges including corruption and espionage, and courts also acting on separate matters such as his diploma and party congress.
- Platform
- X (owned by Elon Musk)
- Account blocked
- Ekrem Imamoglu's Presidential Candidacy Office account
- Account followers
- About 225,700
- Court
- Istanbul 8th Criminal Judgeship of Peace
- Order number
- 2026/6804
- Reason cited
- Protection of national security and public order
- Imamoglu's detention
- Since March 19, 2025, on graft, espionage and terrorism charges (denied)
- Earlier restriction
- Main X account (nearly 10 million followers) blocked in May 2025
