Anwar criticises Meta for removing posts honouring Haniyeh

PETALING JAYA: Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has issued a stern reminder to Meta Platforms Inc (Meta) not to become a tool of the Zionist Israeli regime.

In a Facebook post Thursday (Aug 1), the Prime Minister condemned Meta’s actions as disrespectful and insulting to the struggle of the Palestinian people for removing videos, messages of condolences, and criticisms regarding the assassination of Hamas Political Bureau chief Ismail Haniyeh.

Anwar stated that it was unreasonable to consider posts honouring a fighter striving to liberate his homeland from oppression and suffering as dangerous.

“My stern reminder to Meta – do not be cowardly and a tool of the oppressive Zionist Israeli regime!” he said.

A check on the Prime Minister’s Instagram account revealed that three of his posts from the previous day, which condemned the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh and shared pictures of meetings with the Hamas leader, had been removed from the social media platform.

The removal of these posts was accompanied by the caption “Dangerous individuals and organisations”.

On Wednesday (July 31), the Prime Minister’s Office condemned Meta’s action of removing the pictures of Anwar’s meeting with Hamas leaders in Doha, Qatar, from Instagram.

The Media and Strategic Communications Department of the Prime Minister’s Office, in a Facebook post, stated that this action clearly displayed discrimination against the situation in Palestine and its leaders.

“In this regard, we demand an explanation about this matter and urge Meta to apologise,” said the statement, which was also shared on the Prime Minister’s official social media accounts.

On May 14, the Prime Minister had shared pictures of his meeting with Hamas leaders, including Ismail Haniyeh, on his official social media, but Meta had subsequently removed the posts.

This action was widely condemned, leading Meta to eventually re-upload the posts. – Bernama