Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office banned the photos of Ekrem İmamoğlu, CHP’s presidential candidate and arrested IBB Mayor, on billboards across Istanbul. The posters were removed in midnight operations. The first reaction to the decision came from young people: They boarded subways, buses and ferries across the city wearing Imamoğlu masks.
In protest against the ban, CHP launched a campaign titled “İmamoğlu Her Yerde” (İmamoğlu is Everywhere) and published a sharing file with various visual materials ranging from masks to t-shirts. The ban covers not only outdoor advertisements but also the use of İmamoğlu’s audio, video and visual content in all public transportation areas.
CHP leader Özgür Özel protested the ban at the Turkish Grand National Assembly and unfurled a banner reading “Free İmamoğlu”. CHP MPs also hung a banner on the July 15 Martyrs Bridge with the slogan “Freedom for İmamoğlu”.
May 28, 2025
Cumhuriyet