Since last Friday, authorities in Turkey have been blocking access to the social network Instagram. While no official reason has been clearly given, this ban came after accusations of censorship made by Ankara against the American platform following the assassination by Israel of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh. This Monday, August 5, in a speech, Turkish President Erdogan seemed to confirm the political motivations behind this decision. He criticized social media platforms, accusing them of ” muzzling the Palestinian people ” A decision that provokes the anger of many users.
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Turkish authorities have not given a clear reason for blocking Instagram. But President Erdogan has accused the social network of censoring criticism of Israel and some messages of support for the Palestinians. He went so far as to speak of ” digital fascism “, reports our correspondent in Ankara, Anne Andlauer.
In front of his party officials in Ankara, Mr. Erdogan was uncompromising on Monday: “ We are facing a digital fascism that cannot tolerate even photos of Palestinian martyrs without immediately banning them. “, declared the head of state.
“ These companies have declared war on the glorious resistance and heroes of the Palestinian people in the virtual world. We see them acting like a mafia whenever their interests are at stake. ” he hammered home.
The Instagram block came after accusations of “censorship” were made by the Turkish presidency’s communications director, Fahrettin Altun, who said that Instagram ” prevented people from posting messages of condolences for the martyrdom of (Hamas leader Ismail) Haniyeh “.
A meeting between the Turkish government and platform officials took place on Monday. So far, no results.
“It doesn’t seem very democratic to me…Europe”
Despite the blockage, Edanur continues to post photos on her Instagram account. Like millions of Turks, this 25-year-old nurse knows how to bypass the blockage with a VPN, which allows her to relocate her Internet network abroad… But that doesn’t stop her anger.
” This is censorship, a clear attack on freedom of expression! When I use the VPN, it’s like I’m entering my home through the chimney or the balcony, like a thief… My account is mine, it’s my home! ” exclaims Edanur.
Mete, a trader, approves of this position… but not the method: “ There is no doubt that Instagram filters messages that criticize Israel’s attacks on Palestinians. Our government is right to denounce this. But by blocking Instagram, as they say in Turkish, “it burns the entire coverage for a single chip”… Closing an entire social network on government orders doesn’t seem very democratic to me. »