According to the country’s information technology regulator, Turkey has barred access to social media network Instagram without specifying why or for how long. The suspension also rendered the platform’s mobile app inaccessible.
The move follows comments on Wednesday by Turkish communications official Fahrettin Altun, criticising the platform for what he called its decision to block condolence posts on the killing of Ismail Haniyeh, a key official of the Palestinian militant group Hamas.
‘This is censorship, pure and simple,’ Altun, the communications director of the Turkish presidency, said on X, adding that Instagram had not cited any policy violations for its action.
There was no immediate comment from Instagram parent Meta Platforms Inc. on either the ban or Altun’s remarks.
Turkey’s Information Technologies and Communication Authority (BTK) published the August 2 decision on its website.
Source :News Agency of Nigeria