2024-08-02 12:30:37
CTK
Updated 5 hours ago
Turkey has blocked access to the Instagram social network since Friday morning. According to the AFP and Reuters agencies, it was announced by the Turkish telecommunications authority BTK, which, however, did not justify the move in any way. However, Turkish officials criticized the social network, which is operated by the American company Meta, for not allowing the publication of condolences for the death of the head of the political wing of the terrorist organization Hamas, Ismail Haniyeh.
The authority bluntly states on its website that access to the Instagram social network has been blocked to date. It does not give reasons or how long the measure will be in effect.
However, the agencies are linking the measures to the criticism expressed by Turkish government politicians on Instagram. The head of the press department of the presidential office, Fahrettin Altun, criticized the network for not allowing the publication and sharing of condolences on the death of Hamas chief Hanija. “This is a very clear and obvious attempt at censorship,” Altun said, according to AFP.
Due to the killing of Haniyeh, who was killed in an explosion in Tehran on Wednesday, Turkey declared a day of national mourning for today. Iran and Hamas have blamed the blast on Israel, which has declined to comment publicly.