Instagram users in Turkey have faced a block on the platform for three consecutive days. The Turkish communications authority, BTK, announced the block without specifying a reason but referenced a regulation allowing for the blocking of “criminal content.” Transport and Infrastructure Minister Abdulkadir Uraloglu stated that the block will remain in place until Instagram complies with Turkish laws.
The block follows accusations from President Erdogan's communications director, Fahrettin Altun, who alleged that Instagram was preventing users from publishing messages of condolence for Ismail Haniyeh, a leader of Hamas, which Turkey considers a terrorist organization. This move has drawn criticism from opposition parties and legal professionals, who have petitioned the courts to lift the ban. In Turkey, where 50 million out of 85 million people are Instagram users, this disruption has had a significant impact.
The BTK communications authority announced on its website on Friday that the Meta-owned platform had been frozen, without giving any reason. An official then referred to a regulation that allows “criminal content” to be blocked. “Our country has values and sensitivities. Despite our warnings, they did not take care of criminal content,” Transport and Infrastructure Minister Abdulkadir Uraloglu said on Friday. “We blocked access. When they abide by our laws, we’ll lift the ban.” The president’s communications director, Fahrettin Altun, accused Instagram on Wednesday of “preventing people from publishing messages of condolence for the martyr (Hamas leader Ismail) Haniyeh.” “This is a very clear and obvious attempt at censure,” Altun said on social media platform X. The social-democrat and nationalist opposition parties and the Ankara legal profession petitioned the courts on Friday evening for the freeze to be lifted. According to Turkish media, 50 million of the country’s 85 million people have an Instagram account.