Erdoğan calls those protesting Instagram ban ‘house slaves,’ says they are facing ‘digital fascism’

Commenting on the Turkish government’s ban on Instagram, President Erdoğan said they were facing a “digital fascism” that “cannot even tolerate the photographs of Palestinian martyrs.” He also called those protesting the ban “house slaves” for “complaining about Turkey to the West.”

Tuesday August 06 2024 02:29 pm

Duvar English

Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Aug. 5 slammed social media platform Instagram after his government banned the platform in the country.

Speaking at his Justice and Development Party (AKP) building for an event, Erdoğan said, “All institutions and organizations that are lions when it comes to Turkey are turning into cats and dogs when it comes to Israel. At this point, we are witnessing social media companies behaving like a mafia in every issue that touches their interests, they have become unruly.”

“We are faced with a digital fascism that cannot even tolerate the photos of Palestinian martyrs and bans them immediately, and markets this as freedom,” Erdoğan further said.

Turkey blocked access to the social media platform Instagram on Aug. 2 for failing to comply with the country's “laws and rules,” a government minister said.

However, the move came after a senior Turkish official accused Instagram of blocking condolence posts following the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh, leader of the Palestinian militant group Hamas.

Erdoğan’s remarks in this line suggest that banning the platform is related to Palestine.

“Criminal and terrorist networks are making the propaganda they want on these platforms. The care (these platforms) show in complying with the rules in the U.S. and Europe is deliberately withheld when it comes to Turkey. We have met many times before, but we could not establish the necessary cooperation,” Erdoğan further said.

Moreover, Erdoğan criticized those protesting the ban, and deemed them “house slaves.”

“Those who don't say a word against social media platforms are lining up to complain about Turkey to the West. Those who do not criticize the infamy of social media platforms, those who do not speak out against the fascism they unleash, are lining up to complain about Turkey to the West. This is not how to defend freedoms. This is called 'house slavery.’ More Western than Western, the only aim of the house slaves is to ingratiate themselves with their owners,” he noted.