Access to Ekrem İmamoğlu’s International X Account Blocked in Türkiye

The international X (formerly Twitter) account of Istanbul Metropolitan Mayor and CHP’s presidential candidate Ekrem İmamoğlu has been blocked in Türkiye. The account, @imamoglu_int, was restricted under Article 8/A of Law No. 5651, citing reasons of national security and public order.

İmamoğlu has been in pre-trial detention at Silivri Prison and is already subject to multiple restrictions, including a prior access block on his main X account within Türkiye.

Legal Grounds Unclear, Platform Yet to Enforce Full Visibility Restriction

The decision was relayed to internet service providers, according to Engelli Web, a platform monitoring censorship in Türkiye. However, it remains unclear which court issued the ruling, and the X platform has yet to fully implement the restriction—the @imamoglu_int account is still visible from Türkiye at the time of reporting.

This account had approximately 345,000 followers, serving as a key outlet for international engagement and updates during İmamoğlu’s campaign and subsequent imprisonment.

Access Blocks Raise Concerns Over Political Expression Ahead of Elections

The latest restriction marks an escalation in digital censorship targeting opposition figures in Türkiye. With elections on the horizon, observers note the increased suppression of online political communication. Critics argue that blocking both domestic and international accounts of a detained presidential candidate raises serious transparency and democratic rights concerns.