Turkey announced on Saturday that it has restored access to Instagram, following a nine-day block imposed on the platform. The ban, which began on August 2, was lifted after Instagram’s parent company Meta agreed to work with Turkish authorities to address the government’s concerns.
The Turkish government had previously blocked Instagram due to complaints that the platform did not adhere to the country’s “laws and rules” and had allegedly censored condolence posts related to the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh, the leader of the Palestinian militant group Hamas. Turkey has been vocal in its criticism of Israel’s actions in Gaza and has called for a ceasefire, denouncing Western support for Israel.
The ban had sparked widespread protests among users and small businesses, many of whom rely on the platform for customer engagement. Turkey, which ranks fifth in the world for Instagram usage with over 57 million users, saw significant disruption as a result of the block.
Transport and Infrastructure Minister Abdulkadir Uraloglu confirmed the restoration of access, stating that Instagram had committed to complying with Turkish legal requirements, including the removal of content related to catalog crimes and “terrorism propaganda.” Uraloglu emphasized that this agreement would enhance digital security and ensure better protection of user rights in Turkey.
The suspension of Instagram was noted as Turkey’s longest ban on a major social media platform in recent years. Internet monitor NetBlocks reported that Instagram is now accessible across Turkey’s main internet providers.
