KUALA LUMPUR – Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim says Meta’s action in removing videos, condolence messages, and criticisms of Ismail Haniyeh’s assassination is rude.
In a Facebook post, the prime minister also gave a firm reminder to Meta not to be a tool of the Zionist regime.
“Meta is once again ‘acting rude and belittling the Palestinians’ struggle’ by taking down the video post.
“It does not make sense that a posting that paid tribute to a fighter who was working on liberating his homeland from barbarity and misery was considered dangerous.
“Let this serve as a clear and unequivocal message to Meta: Cease this display of cowardice and stop acting as instruments of the oppressive Zionist Israeli regime!” he said.
Yesterday, the parent company of social media sites Facebook and Instagram took down the premier’s video post that paid tribute to and condemned the assassination of former Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh.
In a statement, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) slammed Meta for also removing his post about meeting Ismail in Qatar back in May.
In a screenshot shared by the prime minister, Instagram said that it has removed the video for featuring “dangerous individuals and organisations.”
The PMO has also demanded an explanation and apology from the tech giant.
Yesterday, Reuters and Middle East news media outlets reported that Ismail was killed in an Israeli strike in Iran, where he was attending the inauguration of the country’s new president.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards confirmed the death of Haniyeh, hours after he attended a swearing-in ceremony. – August 1, 2024