Istanbul Mayor Imamoglu’s Arrest Raises Questions on Turkish Freedoms

Man in suit standing beside Turkish flag. — Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan

Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu’s social media account is now blocked in Turkey following his controversial arrest on corruption charges, escalating tensions as supporters rally behind the potential presidential challenger to Erdogan.

Quick Takes

Turkish authorities have blocked access to opposition leader Ekrem Imamoglu’s X account with nearly 10 million followers after his March 19 detention on corruption charges
The block was justified under Turkey’s Law No. 5651 citing “national security and public order” concerns
Imamoglu’s arrest has triggered Turkey’s largest anti-government protests in a decade, with approximately 2,000 protesters arrested
Turkish lawyer Gonenc Gurkaynak is filing a legal objection to the court’s decision at X’s request
Opinion polls show Imamoglu’s popularity has increased since his arrest, positioning him as a potential main rival to President Erdogan in 2028

Social Media Blackout for Rising Opposition Figure

Access to the X account of Ekrem Imamoglu, Istanbul’s jailed mayor and key political rival to President Tayyip Erdogan, has been blocked throughout Turkey following a court order. Users in Turkey attempting to view his account, which boasts nearly 10 million followers, are now greeted with a message stating the account has been “withheld in TR in response to a legal demand.” The restriction was implemented under Article 8/A of Turkey’s Law No. 5651, with authorities citing concerns about national security and public order.

The account restriction follows Imamoglu’s March 19 detention on corruption charges, which he vehemently denies. Istanbul prosecutors are specifically investigating an April 24 post on Imamoglu’s account where he condemned his arrest and urged the public to “raise your voice.” Despite his detention, Imamoglu had remained active on social media through his legal team, with his last message urging supporters to join a protest rally organized by his Republican People’s Party (CHP).

Growing Political Unrest and Legal Challenges

Imamoglu’s arrest has sparked the largest anti-government protests in Turkey in over a decade. Opposition parties and human rights groups have condemned both his detention and the subsequent social media restrictions as politically motivated attacks on democratic freedoms. The CHP has characterized the account block as a continuation of what they term a “coup attempt” following his arrest. While most protests have remained peaceful, authorities have detained approximately 2,000 demonstrators since the unrest began.

Turkish lawyer Gonenc Gurkaynak announced he would file an objection to the court’s decision at X’s request, presenting “all legal grounds for our objections.” The account blocking order details have not been fully disclosed, but watchdog group EngelliWeb confirmed it was implemented under Article 8/A of Law No. 5651. Law professor Yaman Akdeniz noted that many accounts have faced similar restrictions since Imamoglu’s arrest, suggesting a broader pattern of social media crackdowns.

Political Implications and Public Response

Opinion polls indicate Imamoglu’s popularity has surged since his arrest, potentially positioning him as Erdogan’s main challenger in Turkey’s 2028 presidential election. His detention is widely viewed as having political motivations, with supporters suggesting it aims to sideline a rising opposition figure. Many Turkish citizens have shown solidarity by changing their profile pictures to images of Imamoglu, and tens of thousands participated in a recent rally outside Istanbul University, which had revoked Imamoglu’s degree shortly before his arrest.

“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 Gurkaynak.

The Turkish government’s actions have drawn international attention to concerns about diminishing political freedoms in the country. While Imamoglu’s account remains accessible outside Turkey, the restriction effectively cuts off his ability to communicate with Turkish citizens through one of his primary platforms. The blockage represents the latest development in what critics describe as an ongoing campaign to silence opposition voices in Turkish politics ahead of future elections.