Turkey blocks access to Instagram

Turkey blocked access to social media platform Instagram on Friday for failing to comply with the country's "laws and rules", a government minister said, as official accused the platform of blocking condolence posts following the assassination of Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh in Iran this week.

Access to Instagram was restricted in Turkey following the ban implemented by authorities following a court order on Friday, internet observatory NetBlocks said. Turkey's Information Technologies and Communication Authority (BTK) published the August 2 decision on its website.

"We warned Instagram about certain offences. We want some rules to be followed ... We intervene when they disregard legal rules and public sensitivities," Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Abdulkadir Uraloglu said.

"We are in contact with them. Our sensitivities are clear, as soon as they correct those shortcomings, we will remove the ban. This is a country with laws and rules." Uraloglu added. He did not clarify what the shortcomings were.