Instagram, one of the most popular social networks worldwide, has been suddenly banned in Turkey following a clash between the platform and the country’s government.
With a total population of 85 million, Turkey counts 50 million active Instagram users, according to platform data.
While there was no official reason provided for the ban, some Turkish officials indicated that it followed Instagram’s refusal to post condolences for the death of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh.
Haniyeh was killed by a bomb blast, likely orchestrated by Israeli Mossad agents in Tehran, while attending the inauguration of the new Iranian president Masoud Pezeshkian.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan openly supports Hamas and its anti-Israel actions.
Turkey, unlike most Western allies, recognizes the existence of the Palestinian state and backs its efforts against Israel.
While Hamas is considered a terrorist organization by a majority of Western countries, Turkey holds a different stance.
The country will observe a day of mourning for the death of Ismail Haniyeh, with flags flying at half-mast nationwide.
Transport and Infrastructure Minister Abdulkadir Uraloglu stated, “We warned Instagram about some offenses.
We want some rules to be followed.
We intervene when legal norms and public sensitivity are ignored.” The Minister emphasized the importance of adhering to legal standards and stated that the ban would be lifted once the platform addressed the violations.
Additionally, high-ranking Turkish officials, including Deputy Chief of Staff Omer Fatih Sayan, criticized Instagram for its policies.
Sayan expressed the government’s commitment to creating a social media platform that respects Turkish values, devoid of misinformation, and safer for users.
Mayor of Istanbul Ekrem Imamoglu also condemned the arbitrary closure of a platform widely used by the entire country, adding that social media serves various purposes including commerce and communication.
Turkey ranked 158 out of 180 in the 2024 World Press Freedom Index by Reporters Without Borders.
The report highlighted the growing authoritarianism in Turkey, putting media pluralism at risk.
With the government controlling 90% of national media, there is inadequate coverage of the country’s economic and political situation, as per the report.
The public has increasingly turned to critical or independent media outlets with diverse political opinions to understand the impacts of the economic and political crises on the nation.
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