Meta Bans Popular Muslim News Page in India at Government’s Request
Meta has blocked access to a prominent Muslim news page on Instagram in India. The account, @Muslim, has over 6.7 million followers. The decision followed a request from the Indian government.
Indian Instagram users trying to access the page now see a message: “Account not available in India. This is because we complied with a legal request to restrict this content.”
Ameer Al-Khatahtbeh, the founder and editor-in-chief of the page, confirmed the ban. “Meta has blocked the @Muslim account by legal request of the Indian government,” he said in a statement on Wednesday. “This is censorship.”
Al-Khatahtbeh said he received hundreds of messages and emails from Indian followers. Many expressed confusion and frustration about the account being inaccessible.
Meta declined to comment directly on the matter. Instead, a spokesperson pointed to the company’s policy of restricting content based on local laws. According to Meta’s rules, governments can request removals if they believe the content violates national regulations.
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The news was first reported by User Magazine, a platform run by American tech journalist Taylor Lorenz. The incident comes as tensions rise between India and Pakistan, marking one of their worst confrontations in decades.
The @Muslim Instagram account is among the most followed Muslim media sources worldwide. Al-Khatahtbeh apologized to his Indian audience. “When platforms and countries try to silence media, it tells us we are doing our job by holding those in power accountable,” he said.
He vowed to continue posting. “We will keep documenting the truth and stand firmly for justice,” he added. He also urged Meta to reinstate the account in India.
The ban follows other recent restrictions in India. Authorities have already blocked access to the Instagram accounts of several Pakistani celebrities. These include actor Fawad Khan and singer Atif Aslam. Even Pakistani cricketers like Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, Shahid Afridi, and Wasim Akram were targeted.
India has also banned more than a dozen Pakistani YouTube channels. Many of these channels belong to news outlets critical of Indian policies.
The Instagram account of Imran Khan, Pakistan’s former Prime Minister and cricket legend, is now also blocked in India.
No official response has been issued by the Indian government about these restrictions.
The wave of bans has triggered concern over growing digital censorship in India. Critics argue that it violates freedom of speech and media independence.
Global reactions are growing. On Wednesday, former U.S. President Donald Trump called for an end to the escalating conflict. He offered to help mediate peace between the two countries.
Meanwhile, United Nations Special Envoy Miguel Moratinos urged world leaders to combat rising Islamophobia. He expressed concern about growing suppression of Muslim voices in media and online platforms.
As digital walls go up, the fight over truth, justice, and visibility continues to play out on the global stage — one platform at a time.
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