On Saturday, Turkey announced that it had reestablished access to Instagram, following the platform's agreement to work with the government to resolve ongoing issues. The social media service had been blocked on August 2 due to non-compliance with local regulations and sensitivities.

A senior Turkish official claimed that Instagram had obstructed the posting of condolence messages for the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh, leader of the militant group Hamas. Turkey condemned the attacks by Israel on Gaza, advocating for an immediate ceasefire and criticizing the West's unwavering support for Israel.

The nine-day suspension led to demonstrations from users and small businesses that rely on the platform for customer engagement. Turkey is ranked fifth globally for Instagram usage, boasting over 57 million users, trailing only India, the United States, Brazil, and Indonesia, as per Statista data.

Transport and Infrastructure Minister Abdulkadir Uraloglu shared on X that discussions with Instagram officials resulted in lifting the restriction, citing their commitment to address the concerns related to catalog crimes and user censorship.

In Turkish law, catalog crimes encompass serious offenses such as murder, sexual assault, drug trafficking, alongside abuse and torture. Uraloglu expressed confidence that substantial advancements had been made in enhancing digital security, ensuring legal adherence, safeguarding user rights, and establishing a fair oversight system in Turkey.

Meta, the parent company of Instagram, has agreed to align with Turkish legal requirements and ensure the swift removal of posts associated with certain crimes and "terrorism propaganda," added Uraloglu. When reached for comment, Instagram did not provide an immediate response to Reuters.

According to internet monitoring group NetBlocks, live metrics indicated that Instagram services were reinstated across Turkey's main internet providers following the nine-day national restriction, marking it as the longest halt of a major social media platform in recent times.