Turkey’s Information and Communication Technologies Authority blocked access to Instagram, marking the latest instance of internet censorship in the country, AP News reports.
The block followed Instagram’s removal of posts offering condolences for Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, who was recently killed. Turkish officials, including Presidential Communications Director Fahrettin Altun, criticized Instagram for not respecting Turkish sensitivities and alleged breaches of regulations. The communications minister Abdulkadir Uraloglu, cited Instagram’s failure to comply with local laws as a reason for the ban and suggested it would be lifted once the platform meets Turkish requirements.
The move has drawn criticism from opposition figures like Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, who condemned the ban as censorship. Turkey has a history of restricting access to social media and websites, with numerous domains blocked since 2022.
