Kathmandu— A Turkish court has ordered the social media platform X to block access domestically to the presidential candidacy account of imprisoned Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, which boasts around 225,700 followers. The platform announced that while it is complying with the order due to legal pressures, it will challenge the decision in higher courts.

Court Order and Compliance

The Istanbul court's ruling cited national security and public order as reasons for restricting access to Imamoglu’s account. X stated that although Turkish laws compel them to comply with such orders, they are contesting the decision in court. The company has previously faced similar situations, including when it blocked Imamoglu's main account with nearly 10 million followers in May 2025 and filed a legal challenge against that order as well.

X's Stance on Free Speech

Since taking control of X in 2022, Elon Musk has positioned the platform as a champion of free speech. However, critics argue that his approach to content moderation undermines this stance. In response to the latest court order, X emphasized its commitment to transparency by sharing details of the legal challenge it is pursuing against the restriction.

Imamoglu's Political and Legal Situation

Ekrem Imamoglu, a prominent political figure in Turkey and rival to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, has faced severe legal challenges. His university degree was revoked on March 18, 2025, followed by his arrest on terrorism and corruption charges the next day. This led to widespread protests across the country. Imamoglu’s trial began in March 2026 with prosecutors seeking a staggering sentence of 2,430 years in prison.

(With inputs from DW)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.