Meta blocks Muslim news page on Instagram in India at government request
Rising India-Pakistan hostilities drive government censorship of Pakistani content and Muslim voices on social media.
Meta has restricted access to the prominent Instagram news account @Muslim for users in India at the request of the Indian government, the account’s founder said on Wednesday.
The move comes as hostilities intensify between India and Pakistan, following the deadliest military exchanges between the nuclear-armed neighbours in two decades.
Instagram users in India attempting to access the account, which has 6.7 million followers, were met with a message stating: ‘Account not available in India. This is because we complied with a legal request to restrict this content.’
Ameer Al-Khatahtbeh, founder and editor-in-chief of the page, described the restriction as censorship. ‘Meta has blocked the @Muslim account by legal request of the Indian government,’ he said in a statement. ‘This is censorship.’
Meta declined to comment, but directed AFP to a company page explaining its policy to comply with local laws when requested by governments.
The restriction follows a wave of similar bans on Pakistani public figures and media. Social media accounts of Pakistani cricketers, actors, and even former Prime Minister Imran Khan have also been blocked in India in recent days.
The situation unfolds amid escalating conflict in Kashmir, where India blamed Pakistan for a deadly attack on tourists earlier this month. In retaliation, India launched air strikes, prompting artillery exchanges along the contested border. At least 43 deaths have been reported, and Pakistan has vowed to respond.
@Muslim, one of the most-followed Muslim news sources on Instagram, is known for covering political and social justice issues.
Al-Khatahtbeh apologised to Indian followers and urged Meta to restore access, stating, ‘When platforms and countries try to silence media, it tells us we are doing our job in holding those in power accountable.’
The conflict has also seen a sharp rise in online misinformation, including deepfake videos and misleading content circulated across social media platforms. On Wednesday, US President Donald Trump called for both countries to halt the violence and offered assistance in mediating peace talks.
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