Instagram 'deletes account' of Iran revolutionary leader

Account showing rare or unseen photos of the founder had 100,000 followers before it was removed

TEHRAN: Photosharing service Instagram has deleted an account dedicated to Iran's revolutionary leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini just days before the 26th anniversary of his death, Iranian media reported on Monday.

The @EmamKhomeini account, which published rare or unseen photos of the Islamic republic's founder, had 100,000 followers before it was removed.

"Instagram in an email announced the deletion of the page ... and only provided the automated generic text banning violent, pornographic or advertisement content," according to Iranian media.

Another account @EmamKhomeiny, was created to replace it as Iran prepares to mark the anniversary Thursday of Khomeini's death.

Iran, which has 40 million Internet users among a population of nearly 78 million, has blocked many news, political or pornographic sites and several social networks, especially Twitter and Facebook, since mass protests in June 2009 challenging the re-election of then-president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

Iranians use software to circumvent the restrictions.

Iran began filtering images on Instagram in late 2014 to censor content deemed "offensive" as part of a government project to selectively control social networks.

President Hassan Rouhani, a moderate, has pledged an easing of Internet censorship but he has faced resistance from hardliners.