Meta’s Hypocrisy Exposed: Haniyeh’s Assassination Sparks Outrage Over Social Media Policies

According to SAEDNEWS, The American tech giant behind Facebook, Instagram, Threads, and WhatsApp has ignited a wave of criticism after removing posts related to the assassination of Haniyeh.

This event has prompted an outpouring of condolences from everyday individuals and global leaders alike after Haniyeh was killed on Wednesday morning in an Israeli airstrike in Tehran, where he had attended the inauguration of President Masoud Pezeshkian.

Call to Action

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim shared a video of his conversation with a Hamas official on Facebook to express his condolences. However, the tech company, owned by billionaire Mark Zuckerberg, not only removed his post but also deleted a similar message from his Instagram account. Anwar did not hold back in denouncing this decision, stating, "Let this serve as a clear and unequivocal message to Meta: cease this display of cowardice and stop acting as instruments of the oppressive Zionist Israeli regime." Meta justified its actions by labeling Hamas as a “dangerous organization,” thus banning content that praises it.

Censorship Concerns

Turkey's communications chief, Fahrettin Altun, also voiced his criticism of Instagram's ban on condolences related to Haniyeh's death. He referred to this censorship as "pure and simple," asserting, “We will continue to defend freedom of expression against these platforms, which have repeatedly shown that they serve the global system of exploitation and injustice.” In response to Instagram’s censorship, the Turkish Information and Communication Technologies Authority blocked access to the platform on Friday.

A Pattern of Bias

Meta's actions are not isolated incidents. The company has faced backlash in the past for swiftly removing the accounts of Iran’s Islamic Revolution Leader, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, after he condemned Israel’s actions in Gaza. Similar censorship occurred following the assassination of Iranian commander Lieutenant General Qassem Soleimani in January 2020, when the platform deleted supportive comments and hashtags. These actions bring into question Western claims of upholding freedom of expression, as they appear to selectively silence dissenting voices.

As the situation in Gaza escalates, Meta's perceived bias in favor of Israel remains under scrutiny. The removal of pro-Palestinian content—especially during a time when reports of atrocities are emerging—raises concerns that these actions serve to obscure the realities of the violence occurring.

In essence, as Israel continues its military campaign against the Palestinian population, it seems that some tech companies are acting as enablers of such violence, effectively facilitating a narrative that supports oppression and silence in the face of injustice.