X complies with Turkish court order to block Imamoglu's candidacy account while appealing

Following a judicial directive from an Istanbul court, X has blocked the Turkish audience from viewing the account that Ekrem Imamoglu, the incarcerated mayor of Istanbul, uses for his presidential bid, with authorities invoking national security and public order concerns. The platform acknowledges a legal duty under Turkish law to apply the order but has simultaneously launched a court challenge, arguing the measure is unwarranted.

Imamoglu, arrested on March 19, 2025, sparked the country's largest protests in over a decade and remains behind bars awaiting trial on accusations ranging from graft to espionage, all of which he refutes. He was chosen as the Republican People's Party's presidential nominee after an internal vote, even though Istanbul University annulled his degree—a prerequisite for candidacy—just before his detention. X previously faced a similar block on Imamoglu's main account in May 2025 and also contested that restriction. The episode highlights the tension between local legal mandates and the platform's stated commitment to free expression under owner Elon Musk.