Social media platform X says it is challenging block of jailed Istanbul mayor's account

Social media platform X says it is challenging block of jailed Istanbul mayor's account Submitted by Alex MacDonald on Wed, 08/05/2026 - 11:51 Scepticism greets site's announcement that it is challenging ban on Ekrem Imamoglu's presidential candidacy account, considering it has already blocked hundreds of opposition accounts in Turkey Supporters hold up their mobiles during a protest marking one year since the detention of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu in Istanbul on 18 March (AFP/Yasin Akgul) Off An announcement by X that it is challenging a request to ban imprisoned Mayor of Istanbul Ekrem Imamoglu's presidential candidacy account in Turkey has been met with scepticism by digital campaigners. The account, created to support Imamoglu's candidacy for the next presidential election, was first blocked in Turkey late last month following a government request. In a post on X on Wednesday, the company said Turkish laws "force" them to comply with the order last week, at risk of Turkey's Information and Communication Technologies Authority (BTK) "throttling" the site's access in the country.