Instagram Censors Support For Soleimani

Facebook Instagram Content Removed Government

In order to comply with “US sanctions laws”, Instagram started removing posts and suspending accounts that voiced support for Qassem Soleimani, a commander in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps who was killed by a US drone strike on January 3rd.

From the International Federation of Journalists:

… - at least fifteen journalists have reported their profile being suspended. Some profiles have been restored, but posts containing information about Soleimani were deleted permanently.

A Facebook spokesperson told The Hill:

We review content against our policies and our obligations to US sanctions laws, specifically those related to the US government’s designation of the IRGC and its leadership as a terrorist organization

Instagram removed Soleimani’s account less than a year prior after the US government designated the IRGC as a terrorist organization.

Sources / Relevant Material

  1. International Federation of Journalists "Iran: Journalists demand end to censorship of Iranian media on Instagram" (9 Jan 2020)
  2. RT "Facebook 'thought police' censors pro-Iran posts 'to comply with US sanctions'... as Trump warns Tehran against censorship" (12 Jan 2020)
  3. The Hill "Instagram takes heat for removing pro-Soleimani content" by Chris Mills Rodrigo (16 Jan 2020)