Instanbul Silences Mayor On Social Media After Arrest

Turkey has silenced Istanbul’s popular mayor, Ekrem Imamoglu, by blocking access to his X account with nearly 10 million followers, intensifying the government crackdown after his imprisonment on contested corruption charges.

Quick Takes

Turkish authorities blocked Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu’s X account in Turkey after his detention on corruption charges that sparked the country’s largest protests in a decade
The restriction was imposed under Article 8/A of Law No. 5651, citing “national security and public order” concerns
Imamoglu’s X account showed “Account Withheld” in Turkey but remains accessible outside the country
Opinion polls indicate Imamoglu’s popularity has increased since his arrest, positioning him as a potential main rival to President Erdogan in 2028
Thousands of supporters have changed their profile pictures to images of Imamoglu in solidarity, while X’s lawyer is filing an objection to the court’s decision

Social Media Crackdown Follows Arrest

Turkish authorities have blocked access within Turkey to the X account of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, who was detained on March 19 on corruption charges that he firmly denies. Users in Turkey attempting to access Imamoglu’s account, which has nearly 10 million followers, now see a message stating “Account Withheld — @ekrem_imamoglu has been withheld in TR (Turkey) in response to a legal demand.” The account remains visible to users outside Turkey, creating a digital barrier between the imprisoned mayor and his domestic supporters.

The restriction was implemented by the Information and Communication Technologies Authority under Article 8/A of Law No. 5651, which allows for content blocking on grounds of protecting national security and public order. According to watchdog group EngelliWeb, the account “has been blocked under Article 8/A of Law No. 5651, on the grounds of protecting national security and public order, and has been made invisible in Turkey by X.”

Political Motivations Behind Charges

Istanbul prosecutors are investigating an April 24 post on Imamoglu’s account, which they claim could potentially incite crime. In the post, managed through his lawyers while in detention, Imamoglu urged supporters to “raise your voice” against his arrest and the judicial crackdown on opposition figures. Prosecutors subsequently requested the account be blocked until Imamoglu’s pre-trial detention concludes, a request that was quickly granted by an Istanbul court.

“Regarding the court decision imposing an access restriction on Mr Ekrem Imamoglu’s account on X, upon X’s request and in my capacity as X’s independent attorney, I will be filing an objection application this morning at the relevant court, comprehensively presenting all legal grounds for our objections on this matter,” said lawyer Gonenc Gurkaynak.

The Republican People’s Party (CHP), Turkey’s main opposition party to which Imamoglu belongs, has labeled the account restriction part of a broader “coup attempt” following his arrest. CHP Secretary General Selin Sayek Boke condemned the move, stating, “Now they won’t even allow him to speak to the public.” The party views the social media restrictions as a direct attack on freedom of speech in Turkey, where political freedoms have been increasingly curtailed.

Mass Protests and Growing Support

Imamoglu’s detention has triggered the largest anti-government protests in Turkey in over a decade. Though the demonstrations have been largely peaceful, approximately 2,000 people were arrested shortly after his detention began. Prior to the X account restriction, Imamoglu’s last message urged supporters to join a protest rally organized by his CHP party. Tens of thousands heeded this call, gathering outside Istanbul University, which had revoked Imamoglu’s degree shortly before his arrest in what critics view as politically coordinated actions.

In a remarkable display of solidarity, thousands of Turkish X users have changed their profile pictures to images of Imamoglu. Opinion polls suggest the mayor’s popularity has significantly increased since his arrest, strengthening his position as a potential challenger to President Erdogan in the 2028 presidential election. Law professor Yaman Akdeniz noted that many social media accounts have faced similar restrictions since Imamoglu’s arrest, indicating a pattern of government censorship amid growing political tensions.