Malaysian PM Condemns Facebook for Removing Post on Hamas Leader's Assassination

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim on Thursday criticized Meta Platforms Inc., the parent company of Facebook, for what he termed as cowardice after the social media giant removed his post concerning the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh. This incident marks the latest conflict between the Malaysian government and Meta over content regulation.

Malaysia, a predominantly Muslim nation, is a staunch supporter of the Palestinian cause. Anwar's controversial post featured a video of his phone call with a Hamas official, where he expressed condolences over Haniyeh's death, which occurred in Iran on Wednesday. The assassination has intensified fears of the ongoing Gaza conflict escalating into a broader Middle Eastern war.

Anwar, who had previously met with Haniyeh in Qatar in May, reiterated that while he maintains positive relations with Hamas's political leadership, he has no military affiliations with the group. In his removed Facebook post, Anwar challenged Meta, saying, "Let this serve as a clear and unequivocal message to Meta: Cease this display of cowardice."

Meta, which has categorized Hamas as a “dangerous organization” and prohibits content praising the group, did not immediately respond to requests for comments on the removal. The company employs a combination of automated systems and human moderators to detect and remove content that violates its policies.

Malaysia’s Communications Minister, Fahmi Fadzil, disclosed that an explanation has been requested from Meta. It remains unclear whether the removal was automated or triggered by a complaint. Previously, Malaysia had lodged complaints against Meta for removing local media content, including coverage of Anwar’s meetings with Haniyeh. Such content was later restored following these complaints.

Meta had stated in the past that it does not intentionally suppress voices on its platform and that it aims to uphold community standards without bias. Despite these assurances, tensions remain high as Malaysia continues to advocate for the Palestinian cause and a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

The removal of Anwar's post comes at a sensitive time, highlighting the ongoing friction between national interests and global content policies on social media platforms. As Malaysia seeks to clarify the rationale behind the takedown, the incident underscores the broader challenges faced by global tech companies in navigating geopolitical sensitivities and freedom of expression.