Turkey blocks Instagram without an explanation
The National Communications Authority of Turkey announced on Friday, August 2, that access to the social media platform Instagram has been blocked. The government did not provide a reason for the ban, nor did it specify how long the restriction would last, according to a Reuters report.
The block came just two days after Turkish communications official Fahrettin Altun criticized Instagram for its decision to block condolence posts regarding the killing of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh. In a post on X, Altun condemned Instagram’s actions, stating, “This is censorship, pure and simple.” He added, “We will continue to defend freedom of expression against these platforms, which have repeatedly shown that they serve the global system of exploitation and injustice.”
Defense of free expression and support for Palestine
Altun further expressed Turkey’s solidarity with Palestinians, saying, “We will stand by our Palestinian brothers at every opportunity and on every platform.”
Instagram’s silence and user impact
There was no immediate response from Meta Platforms Inc., Instagram’s parent company, regarding the ban or Altun’s comments. The ban has affected more than 50 million Instagram users in Turkey, many of whom took to X to express their frustration over being unable to refresh their Instagram feed.
Legal perspective and expert opinion
Yaman Akdeniz, a Turkish digital law expert, noted on X, “Access to Instagram was blocked around 3:00 AM this morning following an administrative order. The decision was made either by the presidency or a ministry. The BTK must have its decision approved by a judge.” Akdeniz criticized the move, asserting, “The censorship imposed on Instagram is arbitrary and can never have any explanation or justification. No judge should approve such a request.”
Ismail Haniyeh, the political chief of Hamas, was killed in Tehran on Wednesday, July 31. The Turkish government’s decision to block Instagram appears to be a response to the platform’s handling of posts related to his death, reflecting ongoing tensions between state authorities and global social media platforms over issues of censorship and freedom of expression.