In a controversial move that has sparked online backlash and raised concerns over digital censorship, Meta has restricted access to the Instagram page @Muslim in India at the request of the Indian government, according to the page’s founder. The development coincides with escalating tensions between India and Pakistan, including military strikes and retaliatory threats, further fueling debates on media freedom, religious identity, and political expression in the digital space.
The @Muslim handle, founded by Ameer Al-Khatahtbeh, boasts 6.7 million followers and is considered one of the most prominent Muslim news pages globally. On Wednesday, Indian users trying to access the page were met with the message:
“Account not available in India. This is because we complied with a legal request to restrict this content.”
While Meta declined to issue a direct statement, it referred inquiries to its policy page outlining the company’s process of complying with government requests that allege content violations of local law.
Founder Slams Block as Political Censorship
In a statement posted shortly after the restriction was noticed, Ameer Al-Khatahtbeh confirmed receiving hundreds of messages from followers in India stating they could no longer view the page. He criticized the restriction as a violation of free press and expression:
“Meta has blocked the @Muslim account by legal request of the Indian government. This is censorship,” he wrote.
“When platforms and countries try to silence media, it tells us we are doing our job in holding those in power accountable.”
Khatahtbeh also expressed solidarity with Indian followers, apologizing for the inaccessibility of the platform and vowing to continue “documenting the truth” and “standing firmly for justice.”
Context: Digital Crackdown Amid Armed Conflict
The ban on the @Muslim account comes at a time of heightened geopolitical and military tensions between India and Pakistan, the two nuclear-armed rivals. The situation has deteriorated rapidly following deadly missile strikes by India, which it claims were in response to a terrorist attack on tourists in the Indian-administered side of Kashmir. Pakistan has denied any involvement and promised retribution, warning that it would “avenge” those killed by Indian airstrikes.
As military hostilities intensify—with at least 43 reported deaths from recent exchanges—India has simultaneously intensified its digital restrictions:
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More than a dozen Pakistani YouTube channels have been banned for allegedly spreading “provocative” content.
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Instagram pages of Pakistani celebrities, including former Prime Minister and cricketer Imran Khan, singers Atif Aslam and Fawad Khan, and top cricketers like Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, and Wasim Akram, have also been blocked in India.
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Social media platforms have been flooded with misinformation, deepfakes, and misleading visuals, falsely connected to ongoing strikes and military operations.
Against this backdrop, the blocking of the @Muslim Instagram page—while not directly affiliated with Pakistani content—has been interpreted by critics as part of a broader campaign to stifle dissenting or critical Muslim narratives.
Global Reactions and Concerns Over Free Speech
The restriction of a globally popular news page raises critical questions about the role of tech platforms in political censorship and the responsiveness of companies like Meta to government pressure. While Meta insists it only complies with legitimate legal orders, critics argue that the company is enabling the erosion of free expression under the guise of compliance.
The controversy also prompted a reaction from former U.S. President Donald Trump, who urged both India and Pakistan to “immediately halt their fighting” and offered to mediate a resolution to the crisis.
With no official comment from the Indian government and no legal order made public, the @Muslim page remains inaccessible in India, and the growing calls for transparency and reinstatement have so far gone unanswered.