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Instagram denies shutting down account featuring gay Muslim comic strip
It is not clear who managed the Instagram account, which was set up in November last year. The comic strip features English and Indonesian prose and uses the hashtags #gayindonesia, #gaymalaysia, #komikmalaysia and #gaymuslims.
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A screengrab shows one of the comics uploaded on the account. (Instagram.com/alpantuni)
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ocial media platform Instagram has denied a government claim that it had taken down an Instagram account featuring a comic strip on the life of a gay Muslim man that has caused widespread indignation.
"Instagram did not remove this account. There are a number of other reasons why an account may no longer be accessible, including, for example, if the account holder deleted the account, deactivated the account, or changed the account username," Instagram spokesperson said in a statement obtained by The Jakarta Post on Wednesday.
Read also: Where did Alpantuni go? Instagram accused of removing gay Muslim comic strip
The Communications and Information Ministry earlier claimed that the account was shut down by Instagram because it violated prevailing regulations regarding pornography.
It made the request to the social media giant following a torrent of complaints from local netizens who found the comic strip offensive.
It is not clear who managed the Instagram account, which was set up in November last year. The comic strip features English and Indonesian prose and uses the hashtags #gayindonesia, #gaymalaysia, #komikmalaysia and #gaymuslims.
