Turkey restores access to Instagram after 9-day ban over removal of condolence posts for Haniyeh

Turkey says it has restored access to social media platform Instagram after the company agreed to cooperate with authorities to address the government’s concerns.

Turkey blocked access to the social media platform on August 2, accusing it of failing to comply with the country’s “laws and rules” and public sensitivities.

A top Turkish official had accused Instagram of blocking condolence posts over the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh.

The nine-day ban triggered protests from users and small businesses who reach their customers through the platform.

Turkey ranks fifth in the world in terms of Instagram usage, with more than 57 million users, following India, the United States, Brazil and Indonesia, according to data platform Statista.

“As a result of our negotiations with Instagram officials, we will lift the access block…after they promised to work together to meet our demands regarding catalog crimes and on censorship imposed on users,” Transport and Infrastructure Minister Abdulkadir Uraloglu says in a post on X.

Catalog crimes in Turkish law include acts such as murder, sexual assault, drug trafficking, abuse and torture.

“Significant gains have been achieved in increasing security in the digital environment in Turkey, legal compliance, protection of user rights and the development of a fair inspection mechanism,” Uraloglu says.

Instagram parent Meta has agreed to comply with Turkish law and ensure efficient removal of posts and content if they carry elements of certain crimes or “terrorism propaganda,” the minister adds.

Instagram was not immediately available for comment when contacted by Reuters.