Anwar calls Meta 'biadab' after removal of post about Hamas leader

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has vehemently condemned Meta for removing yet another post from his Instagram and Facebook postings that mentioned the late Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh.

Taking to Facebook, Anwar issued a stark warning to Meta, urging the platform not to be a coward and a tool for the oppressive Zionist Israeli regime.

“Meta has once again acted biadab (insolent) and insulted the struggle of the Palestinian people by removing videos and condolence messages, as well as criticism of the killing of the late Ismail (above).

“It is unreasonable to consider posts honouring a fighter who sought to liberate his homeland from oppression and suffering as dangerous,” he said.

The removal notification from the social media platforms stated that the post is likely to have “symbols, praise, or support of people and organisations that we define as dangerous.”

Anwar shared a screenshot from Instagram showing that three of his posts featuring Ismail were removed.

The posts were on Anwar condemning Ismail’s assassination in Iran yesterday, where he described the act as a “heinous murder.”

Calling Ismail a dear friend and a valiant advocate for his people, Anwar expressed deep concern about the tragedy and the impact it brings to the Palestinians who have already been subjected to so much pain.

What community standards?

Echoing similar concerns, Bersatu secretary-general Hamzah Zainudin condemned Facebook’s removal of a condolence post by party president Muhyiddin Yassin.

In his own Facebook post, Hamzah questioned the rationale behind the removal.

“Is condemning cruelty that costs lives now considered a crime, warranting removal from public view?” he asked.

“Are statements denouncing brutal killings and condemning acts of genocide now classified as violations of community standards or ‘against community standards’?”

Hamzah challenged the notion of community standards, asking, “Which community standard is accepted by society: brutal killings or condemning brutal killings?”

He urged Malaysians to see this as an attempt to undermine efforts to condemn cruelty and injustice.

“The public expects a clearer and firmer stance from the government regarding the actions of such international companies. Who are our real enemies?” he added.

More taken down

Previously, the Prime Minister’s Office condemned Meta for taking another post down which featured Anwar’s meeting with Ismail in May.

Similarly, Instagram removed Deputy Youth and Sports Minister Adam Adli Abd Halim’s post about Ismail’s passing. Adam shared the matter on Instagram today, revealing that his post on July 31 was taken down.

Hamas announced Ismail’s death on Telegram, stating that he was killed in a Zionist raid on his residence in Tehran after attending the inauguration of Iran's new president, Masoud Pezeshkian.

On the first day of Hari Raya Aidilfitri in April, an airstrike by the Israeli regime in Gaza murdered Ismail’s three sons, Hazem, Amir, and Mohammad, along with four of his grandchildren.

Born at the al-Shati refugee camp in the Egyptian-occupied Gaza Strip in 1962, Ismail was actively involved in the pro-Palestinian cause from his university days before joining Hamas in 1987, when it was established during the First Palestinian Intifada (uprising).

The same year, he graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Arabic Literature.

Ismail became the head of Hamas’ political bureau in 2016.

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