Türkiye’s main opposition threatens X after closure of countless social media accounts

The leader of Türkiye’s main opposition party has issued a stark warning to social media platforms, particularly X (formerly Twitter), cautioning against complying with Turkish government requests to block access to opposition accounts.

Many violent protests were organized via social media in Istanbul following the arrest of former Istanbul mayor Ekrem Imamoglu over serious corruption charges.

The former mayor was arrested on March 23. The accusations against Imamoglu include the questionable acquisition of three villas in one of Istanbul’s prime locations by his family’s construction company, in which he owns 60 percent of the shares.

According to official documents, Ali Nuhoglu, a close business associate of Imamoglu purchased the villas on his behalf and transferred the property to Imamoglu’s company after three years with low price.

The government defends that Imamoglu’s arrest was legally justified.

 Turkish Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc on Thursday emphasized the principle of equality before the law and the independence of the judiciary, rejecting main opposition party’s allegations of political interference in the ongoing investigation into Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu and 105 other suspects over corruption , organized crime, and terror-related charges.

”According to Article 10 of our Constitution, all are equal before the law. No person, family, group, or class may be granted privileges. Furthermore, Article 138 of our Constitution regulates the independence of the judiciary,” Tunc told international journalists at a press conference in Istanbul.

Ozel’s sharp criticism

Ozgur Ozel, head of the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), claimed that authorities are attempting to impose access restrictions on diverse voices through the Information and Communication Technologies Authority (BTK).

“Restricting the public’s freedom to access information is the most crucial element of a coup attempt,” Ozel wrote on his X account that those against Imamoglu were not satisfied with the pressure exerted on opposition channels through RTUK (Türkiye’s Radio and Television Supreme Council.)

In his pointed message addressed directly to X’s Turkish division, Ozel stated: “This is my open call to @xturkiye and @GlobalAffairs: This nation has already overthrown the media regime of coup plotters. We know you have shut down hundreds of pages thinking ‘no one will understand anyway.’ Think carefully about what this nation will do to you if you become instruments of anti-democratic practices and implement access restriction requests today!”

The opposition leader’s warning comes amid reports that social media accounts of celebrities who supported boycott calls have been blocked. Among those affected were actors Rojda Demirer and Alican Yucesoy, whose X accounts were reportedly shut down.