Turkey restricts Instagram after reported censorship of Haniyeh posts

Turkey has blocked access to Instagram, according to its national communications authority, after a senior government official criticised the platform for “censoring” content related to assassinated Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh. 

On Wednesday, Fahrettin Altun, the communications director for the Turkish presidency, accused Instagram of "censorship" after reports that it was blocking condolence posts regarding Haniyeh.

“This is censorship, pure and simple,” Altun wrote on X.

“We will continue to defend freedom of expression against these platforms, which have repeatedly shown that they serve the global system of exploitation and injustice,” Altun stated.

“We will stand by our Palestinian brothers at every opportunity and on every platform,” he added.