Türkiye blocks access to Instagram

Turkey’s communications authority blocked access to Instagram on Friday, another example of how the country has tightened its control over certain websites and social networks.

Turkey’s Information and Communications Technologies Authority, which regulates the Internet, announced Friday that it has restricted access to the site, the Associated Press reported.

Local media said Instagram was blocked as part of a response to the site removing posts from Turkish users expressing condolences over the recent assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, the AP reported.

Turkish Deputy Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Ömer Fatih Sayan posted on social platform that Western countries receive a better response from service providers like Instagram when they have problems and Turkey demands “the same sensitivity and fairness”.

“We want the safe, clean and fair content mechanism that these platforms offer in countries where they comply with their rules to also be valid in Turkey,” he said. “This double standard applied by suppliers is a common problem around the world.”

Turkey’s transport and infrastructure minister, Abdulkadir Uraloglu, said Instagram ignored “sensitivities” and violated serious crimes, including incitement to suicide, torture, obscenity and more, AP reported.

“When they do not comply with laws and our regulations and do not take into account our social sensitivities, we are obliged to make necessary interventions,” he said.

He said they will lift the ban once Instagram meets the requirements and contacts the site’s representative in Turkey.

The AP noted that there are more than 50 million Instagram users in Türkiye.

Haniyeh, the political leader of Hamas, was killed in Iran earlier this week. He was one of the main leaders of the group that was in Tehran for the inauguration of the new president.

Turkey observes a day of mourning for the group’s leader, and unlike other countries, Turkey does not designate Hamas as a terrorist organization, the AP said.

The Hill has reached out to Instagram for comment.

The Associated Press contributed.

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