Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim Criticizes Meta for Content Removal

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim labeled Meta Platforms as 'cowardly' following the removal of his Facebook post about Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh's assassination. Muslim-majority Malaysia supports Palestine, and Anwar's phone call video to a Hamas official was censored. Meta cited banning content praising Hamas due to it being a 'dangerous organisation.'

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has condemned Meta Platforms, calling the company 'cowardly' for removing his Facebook post concerning the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh. The post included a video of Anwar offering condolences via a phone call to a Hamas official.

This latest incident underscores ongoing tensions between Malaysia—a staunch supporter of the Palestinian cause—and Meta. The tech giant has designated Hamas as a 'dangerous organization,' thereby banning content that praises the group. Anwar's post was removed under these guidelines, adding to concerns about conflict escalation in the Middle East.

Meta did not provide an immediate response, and Malaysia's Communications Minister has sought clarification on whether the post was automatically or manually removed. Previously, Malaysia had similar complaints about Meta's content restrictions, which were later resolved. Despite these challenges, Malaysia continues to advocate for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

(With inputs from agencies.)