Due to alleged censorship of material connected to Hamas, Turkey has blocked access to Instagram. The decision was made by the national communications authority in response to the tendency criticized by government officials.
Fahrettin Altun, who is the communications director for the Turkish presidency, said that Instagram had restricted the sympathy messages regarding the death of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh. He said this is censorship, and according to the internet, he did not receive any messages about policy violations from Instagram.
The decision is illustrative of the Turkish regime’s solidarity with the Palestinian people and affiliation with the Hamas group, recognized as a terrorist organization. Stand for freedom of speech against these platforms that proved that they are an extension of the global exploitative, unjust system against such outlets, ’ Altun said.
The block has incurred much criticism; therefore, digital rights activists continue to claim that the government exercises excessive censorship. Turkish digital law expert Yaman Akdeniz described censorship as arbitrary; the censorship that is present on Instagram can not have an explanation or justification.
The problem has also attracted a more general discussion of the relationship between the Turkish administration and social media, with some observers arguing that the recent Instagram blocking is just an example of intensified government repression of social media dissent.
