Turkey Blocks Access to Instagram Without Providing a Reason

Turkey has taken the unexpected step of blocking access to Instagram, leaving users unable to connect to the platform or use its mobile app. The Information Technologies and Communication Authority (BTK) made the announcement on August 2, but did not offer any explanation for the ban or specify how long it will last.

The decision follows recent criticism from Fahrettin Altun, Turkey’s communications director, who accused Instagram of censoring condolence posts related to Ismail Haniyeh, a high-ranking official of the Palestinian militant group Hamas. Altun condemned the platform’s actions as “censorship” and noted that Instagram had not cited any specific policy violations for its decision to block these posts.

The timing of the ban and its implications remain unclear, and Instagram’s parent company, Meta Platforms Inc, has yet to comment on the situation. This development has raised concerns about freedom of expression and the role of social media in political discourse.