Instagram ‘fails to be an ally’ to LGBTI people by shutting down account in Indonesia

Responding to the decision by Instagram to take down an account featuring comic strips about the life of a Muslim man, at the Indonesian government’s request, Amnesty International Indonesia’s Executive Director Usman Hamid said:

“By complying with the government’s request to remove this account, Instagram has caved to the growing repression of LGBTI people in Indonesia. This account did not publish pornography, as the government claims. It did nothing other than publish harmless illustrations featuring a character’s daily life, including references to his sexual orientation.

“At a time when Indonesian people face hateful homophobic rhetoric and discrimination, Instagram has failed to be an ally. It should take a bold stand and reinstate the account immediately.”

Background

On February 13, Instagram moved an account under the username Alpatuni, following a request from Rudiantara, the communications and information minister. The minister claimed that the account “promoted pornography” as regulated under Article 27 paragraph 1 of the 2008 law on Electric Information and Transactions.