Turkey blocked access to the social media platform Instagram on Friday for failing to comply with the country’s “laws and rules,” a government minister said.
The move followed accusations by a senior Turkish official that the platform had blocked condolence posts after the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh, leader of the Palestinian militant group Hamas. “We warned Instagram about certain offenses. We want some rules to be followed… We intervene when they disregard legal rules and public sensitivities,” Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Abdulkadir Uraloglu stated. “We are in contact with them. Our sensitivities are clear; as soon as they correct those shortcomings, we will remove the ban. This is a country with laws and rules,” Uraloglu added, without specifying the exact shortcomings.
Access to Instagram has been restricted in Turkey following the ban implemented by authorities in compliance with a court order on Friday, according to internet observatory NetBlocks. Turkish communications official Fahrettin Altun criticized Instagram on Wednesday for its decision to block condolence posts after Haniyeh was killed in Tehran. “This is censorship, pure and simple,” said Altun, the communications director of the Turkish presidency, on X.