Meta Removes Ali Khamenei's Instagram Accounts Following Policy Violations

Meta has decided to deactivate Ali Khamenei's Instagram profiles after facing pressure from pro-Israel groups. The move comes as a result of violations of Meta's Dangerous Organizations & Individuals policy. Khamenei's Persian and English-language accounts, with millions of followers, were shut down due to their involvement in promoting violence, as per Meta's guidelines.

Criticism against Khamenei's social media presence has been mounting, especially following the Hamas-led attacks in southern Israel on October 7. Despite denials of Iranian involvement in the attacks, Khamenei has been accused of endorsing them on social media. Additionally, he has openly supported Palestinian resistance against Israeli actions in Gaza and attacks by Yemen's Houthi rebels in the Red Sea.

This isn't the first time Khamenei's accounts have faced suspension; Instagram previously took action in 2019, only to restore them later. Meta has faced its share of controversy concerning Khamenei, particularly when it allowed the anti-government slogan "Death to Khamenei" to circulate on its platforms in 2023.

The decision followed protests across Iran over the death of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old Kurdish woman, after her arrest for not wearing a hijab. Despite social media bans in Iran, including on Facebook and Twitter, some Iranian officials, including Khamenei, have maintained accounts through VPNs.

Criticism against Meta's actions has been voiced, with accusations of hypocrisy, particularly regarding the disparity in treatment between Khamenei and Israeli officials regarding support for their respective causes. Mohammad Marandi, an academic and former Iranian government advisor, condemned Meta's move, stating that Khamenei's only crime was supporting Palestinian resistance.