New York: Meta, the parent company overseeing Instagram and Facebook, has made the decision to remove accounts associated with Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in response to criticism over his support for Hamas. Confirming the move on Friday, the social media giant cited repeated violations of its “Dangerous Organizations and Individuals policy” as the reason behind the removal. However, Meta did not delve into specifics regarding their determination. This policy is aimed at preventing the presence of entities or individuals involved in violent activities, including those designated as terrorists by the US government.
As of now, Iran’s mission to the United Nations has yet to issue a response to this development. It’s important to note that Khamenei and his extensive network in Iran have long been the target of American sanctions. The US administration, particularly under former President Donald Trump, initiated sanctions against Khamenei in 2019 amid escalating tensions in the Middle East following America’s withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal.
Pressure on online platforms to take action against Khamenei has intensified in recent years, particularly following widespread protests triggered by the death of Mahsa Amini in 2022. Amini was reportedly arrested in Iran for not adhering to the mandatory headscarf rule. Khamenei’s utilization of Facebook has drawn criticism, especially considering that the platform has been banned in Iran since the contentious presidential election in 2009 and the subsequent Green Movement protests. Additionally, Iran has blocked Instagram and Meta’s WhatsApp messaging service following protests surrounding Amini’s death. Nonetheless, Khamenei still maintains an account on X (formerly known as Twitter).
Accounts affiliated with Khamenei had expressed support for the Hamas attack on Israel, which resulted in the deaths of 1,200 people and the taking of approximately 250 hostages. In the aftermath of the attack, Khamenei voiced his backing for Hamas in a speech, declaring, “We kiss the hands of those who planned the attack on the Zionist regime.” While Iran has supplied arms and assistance to Hamas, it is not believed to have directly orchestrated the attack on October 7th. Subsequently, Israel’s conflict with Hamas in the Gaza Strip has led to the deaths of over 27,000 Palestinians and has heightened tensions across the broader Middle East. Iranian-backed groups like Hezbollah in Lebanon and Houthi rebels in Yemen, both armed by Iran, have also launched assaults against Israel during this period.
Jonathan Greenblatt of the Anti-Defamation League applauded Meta’s decision, underscoring Khamenei’s use of these platforms to promote violent antisemitism, legitimize militant anti-Zionism, and issue genocidal threats.
