The board of directors of American giant Meta, Facebook’s parent company, asked the social network to approve a publication with the message “Death to Khamenei,” Iran’s supreme leader, which was withdrawn by the group.
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In its decision issued Monday, the board “determines that the removal of the post is not consistent with Meta’s community standards, values or human rights responsibilities.”
“In the context of this publication and the general social, political and linguistic situation in Iran, ‘marg bar Khamenei’ (‘Death to Khamenei’ in Farsi, editor’s note) should be understood as ‘low’. It is a rhetorical and political slogan and not a credible threat,” continues the independently classified but Meta-funded entity.
The targeted publication dates from July 2022: it contains a caricature of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei with the headline “Death to misogynist Islamic government” and “Death to their filthy leader Khamenei”.
Since September, Iran has been gripped by a wave of protests triggered by the death of Mahsa Amini.
The 22-year-old Iranian died after being arrested by police officers who accused her of violating the country’s strict dress code for women.
The oversight body says Facebook’s failure to enforce freedom of expression “has resulted in political speech protecting women’s rights being silenced.”
Meta often has to choose between moderating content that could be considered violent and defending freedom of speech.
For example, last March, shortly after Russia invaded Ukraine, the group led by Mark Zuckerberg decided to make exceptions to their rules on inciting violence and hatred by tolerating hostile messages directed at the Russian army and its leaders.
Meta later clarified his position by saying he does not allow death threats against Russian heads of state or citizens.