Mysterious block

Instagram in Turkey only accessible via VPN

The Instagram platform has been blocked in Turkey. The social network was blocked by decision on August 2, wrote the state-affiliated news agency DHA, citing the Turkish Information and Communication Technology Authority.

The reasons and expected duration of the block were not initially known. However, there had previously been official criticism of the blocking of condolences for the killed Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh.

Only accessible via VPN tunnel
The platform Instagram, which is also widely used in Turkey, was only accessible to users in the morning via protected network connections (VPN). The cyber rights activist Yaman Akdeniz wrote on the platform X that the reason was "national security and the protection of public order".

On Wednesday, Turkey's communications director, Fahrettin Altun, accused Instagram in a post on X of blocking messages of condolence for Ismail Haniyeh. He accused the platform of censorship. It was not initially clear whether there was a connection to the block. Turkey has declared a day of national mourning for the death of Haniyeh on Friday, as President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced on X.

Turkey maintains good relations with the Islamist Hamas. Erdogan had only met Haniyeh in Istanbul in April.