Turkiye Instagram ban ‘violates’ free speech: Human Rights Watch

ISTANBUL: Turkiye on Friday marked a week since the authorities blocked access to Instagram, with Human Rights Watch (HRW) saying the suspension violated free speech.

The authorities have also frozen popular online video game Roblox.

The rights watchdog urged the government to restore access to US-owned Instagram, which President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has accused of “fascism” and ministers have blamed for failing to remove posts the authorities deem offensive.

“Blocking everyone´s access to an entire social media platform is a grossly disproportionate measure that violates the right to free expression and information of millions of users,” HRW´s Deborah Brown said.

“(It) should be reversed immediately.”

Last week, Erdogan´s communications director Fahrettin Altun accused Instagram of censorship.

He complained the platform had prevented people posting messages of condolence over the assassination of Ismael Haniyeh.

Haniyeh, the political leader of Palestinian group Hamas, was killed in Tehran in an attack blamed on Israel.

Erdogan, an ally of Haniyeh´s, said on Monday social media networks “cannot even tolerate photos of Palestinian martyrs without immediately banning them”.