India Bans Muslim News Page Amid Escalating India-Pakistan Clashes

Meta has blocked access to the prominent Instagram news account @Muslim in India following a legal request from the Indian government amid escalating tensions between India and Pakistan. The ban prevents Indian users from viewing the page, which has over 6.7 million followers and serves as a significant news source for the global Muslim community, including India's 200 million Muslims. The restriction follows a series of social media bans on Pakistani celebrities and athletes in India, coinciding with severe military clashes after India launched missile strikes in retaliation for an alleged Pakistan-backed terror attack in Kashmir. Ameer Al-Khatahtbeh, founder and editor-in-chief of @Muslim, condemned the move as censorship and apologized to Indian followers, asserting that the ban indicates the platform is effectively holding power to account. Meta declined to comment directly but referred to its policy of restricting content in compliance with local laws. The Indian government has not publicly responded to the censorship, which has drawn criticism from groups like the National Council on American-Islamic Relations for setting a dangerous precedent of religious and political suppression.