Meta, the parent company of Instagram and Facebook, has taken the step of removing accounts associated with Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. This move comes after criticism of Khamenei's support for Hamas following the group's attack on Israel on October 7th, which sparked the ongoing conflict in the Gaza Strip.
When asked about the decision, Meta, headquartered in Menlo Park, California, did not provide specific reasons. However, the company cited its policy on Dangerous Organizations and Individuals as the basis for removing the accounts. According to this policy, entities or individuals engaged in violence or promoting a violent mission are not allowed a presence on Meta platforms. This includes those designated as terrorists by the United States government.
The Iranian mission to the United Nations has not yet commented on the removal of the accounts. It is worth noting that Khamenei and his extensive network in Iran have long been targeted by American sanctions. The Supreme Leader himself has been under U.S. sanctions since 2019 when tensions escalated in the Middle East due to former President Donald Trump's decision to withdraw the United States from the nuclear deal with Iran.
In recent years, there has been increased pressure on online platforms to remove Khamenei. This pressure intensified after the mass protests following the death of Mahsa Amini in 2022. Amini was allegedly arrested due to her choice of headscarf, leading to widespread public outrage. Khamenei has faced criticism for his use of Facebook, but it should be noted that the social network has been banned in Iran since the disputed presidential election in 2009 and the subsequent Green Movement protests. Iran also blocked Instagram and Meta's WhatsApp messaging service following the protests related to Amini's death.
Although his accounts on Instagram and Facebook have been removed, Khamenei still maintains an account on X, the rebranded version of Twitter. Notably, Khamenei and other accounts associated with him had been praising the Hamas attack on Israel, which resulted in the deaths of 1,200 people and the capturing of approximately 250 others. Immediately after the attack, Khamenei publicly supported Hamas, stating, 'We kiss the hands of those who planned the attack on the Zionist regime.'
It is important to acknowledge that while Iran has provided arms and support to Hamas, it is not believed to have directly orchestrated the October 7th attack. However, since then, Israel's military response to Hamas in the Gaza Strip has led to the deaths of over 27,000 Palestinians and escalated tensions throughout the wider Middle East. Other Iranian-backed militias, such as Lebanon's Hezbollah and Yemen's Houthi rebels, armed by Iran, have also carried out attacks against Israel during this period.
Jonathan Greenblatt of the Anti-Defamation League has praised Meta's decision to remove Khamenei's accounts. Greenblatt has accused Khamenei of using these platforms over the years to incite violent anti-Semitism, legitimize militant anti-Zionism, and make genocidal threats.
While Meta's action may be seen as a step towards curbing hate speech and violent rhetoric, it also raises discussions about the responsibility of social media platforms in dealing with influential individuals who promote violence or support organizations involved in acts of terror. The removal of Khamenei's accounts highlights the ongoing challenges faced by online platforms in maintaining a balance between freedom of expression and preventing the spread of harmful content.
