Turkey blocks jailed opposition leader Imamoglu’s X account

Turkey has restricted access to the X account of imprisoned Istanbul mayor and leading opposition figure Ekrem Imamoglu, citing concerns over public order and criminal incitement related to a recent social media post.

Authorities claim that a message Imamoglu shared in April could be interpreted as “public incitement to commit a crime,” prompting a court to order a full block on his account.

The Istanbul 8th Criminal Judgeship of Peace approved the restriction on Thursday, stating that it was “technically not possible” to remove just the specific post without blocking the entire profile. The decision was announced by the Turkish Presidency’s Centre for Combating Disinformation.

Imamoglu’s account had remained active since his arrest in March, with his legal team reportedly managing posts on his behalf from prison. His page had served as a key communication channel for political statements, calls for protest, and criticisms of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s government.

Prosecutors argued the account’s continued use posed a risk to public stability, adding that Imamoglu was not the one directly operating it from custody. As a precaution, they requested the block remain in place until the end of his detention.

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The April 24 post that triggered the ban included an announcement from Imamoglu that he had filed criminal complaints against state officials responsible for his arrest, accusing them of fabricating evidence and threatening detainees.

“I ask this handful of opportunists who have brought complete misery upon our nation,” he wrote. “How do you justify to the esteemed Turkish judiciary the fabrication of false witnesses and testimonies, creating informants and slanderers, arresting innocents or threatening them with arrest by saying, ‘You’ll never get out of prison’?”

Imamoglu also urged supporters to take similar legal action against those involved in his prosecution.

Since his detention on corruption charges — which rights groups say are politically motivated — Turkey has blocked hundreds of accounts belonging to journalists, civil society figures, and media outlets. Human rights organizations have condemned the sweeping restrictions, calling them part of a broader effort to silence dissent ahead of the 2028 presidential election.

Imamoglu, a member of the opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), is considered one of the most formidable challengers to Erdoğan’s rule. He was re-elected mayor of Istanbul last year with over 54 percent of the vote, a major win for the secular opposition in Turkey’s largest city.

In a controversial move, the government annulled Imamoglu’s university diploma shortly after his arrest — a decision that disqualifies him from running for president under current laws. His detention sparked nationwide protests and an economic boycott targeting businesses perceived as close to the ruling party.

While prosecutors have accused Imamoglu of heading a criminal network involved in extortion and public fund embezzlement, they have yet to file a formal indictment. Leaked documents in pro-government media purporting to show evidence have been met with skepticism abroad.