Iranian and Venezuelan academics and intellectuals have strongly condemned Meta’s removal of Instagram and Facebook accounts of Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei.
In a meeting dubbed Iran-Venezuela Cultural Relations, which was recently held at the Bolivarian University of Venezuela in the capital Caracas, the group in a joint statement described the move by Meta as “proof of the absurdity of the West’s claim regarding freedom of expression.”
Meta Platforms, Inc., the American company that runs and owns Instagram, earlier this month removed Ayatollah Khamenei’s Persian- and English-language accounts on the social media platform.
In the inaugural ceremony, messages from both ministers of culture of Venezuela and Iran were read to denounce the Meta move.
Iranian Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance Mohammad Mehdi Esmaili in a message spoke about the removal of pro-Palestinian content by those who claim to advocate human rights.
“Freedom of expression seems only to be allowed as long as one does not criticize their oppressive policies. The recent closure of the informative pages belonging to Imam Khamenei following his decisive support for the oppressed people of Palestine and his condemnation of the Zionist regime, which has the backing of the United States, is a clear testimony to that matter,” the Iranian minister said.
Elsewhere, Esmaili referred to the recent bitter events in Gaza. He accused those who claim to be human rights advocates, led by the US, of being the common enemies of justice-seeking nations. He said they deal with their opponents using sanctions, assassinations, and censorship.
Minister of Culture of Venezuela Ernesto Villegas Poljak, for his part, vowed to counter Western influence by protecting respect for cultural diversity.
“We are dedicated to upholding our people’s right to independent sovereignty and shaping an independent future while safeguarding the characteristics of our culture in a world that celebrates diversity and that respects all cultures equally.”
The participants at the meeting emphasized the importance of cultural interaction as a means of resistance and fostering close relationships between the people of countries seeking justice.
Meta has been taking down pro-Palestinian content across Instagram and Facebook since October 7, 2023.
The move came following months of incessant campaigning by pro-Israeli groups, which are known for wielding immense influence and interfering in major decision-making processes across the United States, the Israeli regime’s biggest ally.
The company has censored hundreds of instances of such content amid growing calls by supporters of Palestine for cessation of the Israeli military onslaught on Gaza.
