DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Meta has taken action by removing Instagram and Facebook accounts associated with Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. This decision comes in the wake of criticism directed at Khamenei for his support of Hamas following its October 7th attack on Israel, which ignited a prolonged conflict in the Gaza Strip.

Meta, headquartered in Menlo Park, California, confirmed the removal of these accounts on Friday, citing repeated violations of their Dangerous Organizations and Individuals policy. This policy prohibits organizations or individuals with a violent mission or involvement in violence from having a presence on Meta’s platforms, including those designated as terrorists by the U.S. government.

While Meta did not elaborate on its specific reasoning, pressure has mounted on online platforms to address Khamenei’s online presence in recent years. This pressure intensified after widespread protests erupted in 2022 following the death of Mahsa Amini, who was allegedly arrested over her adherence to Iran’s mandated headscarf policy.

Despite Facebook being banned in Iran since the 2009 disputed presidential election and subsequent protests, Khamenei had continued to use the platform. However, Iran’s authorities had blocked access to Instagram and Meta’s WhatsApp messaging service following protests related to Amini’s death.

Khamenei still maintains an account on X, formerly Twitter.

Khamenei and affiliated accounts had faced criticism for endorsing the Hamas attack on Israel, which resulted in the deaths of 1,200 people and the taking of 250 hostages. In a speech immediately after the attack, Khamenei expressed support for Hamas, stating, “We kiss the hands of those who planned the attack on the Zionist regime.”

While Iran has provided support to Hamas, it is not believed to have directed the October 7th attack. Nonetheless, the ensuing conflict between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip has led to significant casualties, with over 27,000 Palestinians killed, escalating tensions across the wider Middle East. Other Iranian-backed groups, such as Lebanon’s Hezbollah and Yemen’s Houthi rebels, have also engaged in hostilities against Israel.

Jonathan Greenblatt of the Anti-Defamation League commended Meta’s decision, highlighting Khamenei’s use of social media platforms to promote violent anti-Semitism, anti-Zionism, and make genocidal threats.

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