Turkey Blocks Instagram Censorship Concerns Rise Amid National Outcry
vdTurkey Blocks Instagram: Censorship Concerns Rise Amid National Outcry
ISTANBUL: On Friday, Aug 2, Turkey imposed a sudden and controversial block on Instagram, the popular social media platform, sparking widespread outrage and accusations of censorship from both the public and officials. The move comes amid growing tensions over online content and raises significant concerns about freedom of expression in the country.
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Instagram Blocked Across Turkey
Reports from users across Turkey flooded social media platform X (formerly Twitter) early Friday morning, complaining that they were unable to refresh their Instagram feeds. This issue was later confirmed by AFP journalists on the ground. The blockage was officially announced on the website of Turkey’s BTK communications authority, which confirmed the restriction without providing a clear explanation.
Government’s Stance on the Blockage
A BTK official, speaking to Turkish media, cited “criminal content” as the primary reason for the blockage. However, the exact nature of this content was not detailed. The official suggested that if Instagram did not remove the objectionable content, the platform could face a permanent ban in Turkey.
Allegations of Censorship
The block on Instagram follows accusations of censorship leveled by Fahrettin Altun, the President’s communications director. Altun accused Instagram of preventing users from posting messages of condolence for Ismail Haniyeh, the political chief of Hamas, who was recently killed in an attack in Tehran, allegedly orchestrated by Israel. Haniyeh, a close ally of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, was mourned nationwide, with Erdoğan even declaring a national day of mourning in his honor.
Mixed Signals from the Government
Contradictory explanations emerged from different government sources. While some officials linked the Instagram block to content related to Haniyeh, an anonymous BTK source told the independent news website Medyascope that the real issue was offensive content including “insults to Atatürk,” Turkey’s founding father, and other crimes like “drug-related activities and pedophilia.” This source insisted that the block had nothing to do with Haniyeh’s death.
Public Reaction and Historical Context
The decision to block Instagram has drawn widespread criticism across other social media platforms, with many users mocking the move. IT expert Cem Say criticized the decision, pointing out that Turkey ranks poorly in global internet speed, and argued that BTK should focus on improving internet services rather than restricting them.
This is not the first time Turkey has blocked access to major websites. In a notable case, Wikipedia was banned from April 2017 until January 2020 after articles on the site suggested a link between the Turkish government and extremist groups. The temporary block on Wikipedia was met with shock, highlighting the tension between government control and online freedom in Turkey.
