Turkey Blocks Instagram... "Prevents Mourning for Hamas Leader's Death"

Turkiye authorities blocked access to the social networking service (SNS) Instagram on the 2nd (local time).

This move is interpreted as a response to Instagram deleting some memorial posts for Ismail Haniyeh, the top political leader of Hamas, who was killed in Tehran, Iran, on the 31st of last month.

[Image source=AFP Yonhap News]

Turkiye's Information and Communication Technologies Authority only announced, "We have decided to block Instagram starting today."

As a result, as of the morning of this day, it is not possible to access the Instagram website via PC or smartphone browsers in Turkiye. Some users are also reported to be experiencing errors where they cannot see new content on the mobile app.

In this regard, Fahrettin Altun, the Communications Director of the Turkiye Presidential Office, wrote on X (formerly Twitter) on the 31st of last month, "We condemn Instagram for unjustifiably blocking posts commemorating Haniyeh's martyrdom," adding, "This is a clear attempt at censorship."

He added, "We will defend freedom of expression against such platforms."

Bloomberg reported that the Turkiye government has previously restricted access to SNS citing security reasons when terrorism or natural disasters occurred.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has criticized Israel and supported Hamas and Palestine since the outbreak of the war between Israel and Hamas in October last year.