Twitter hides tweet purportedly from Iranian Supreme Leader

[Bubbajim]

What just happened? Twitter has hidden a tweet that appears to have come from or on behalf of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei, as the tweet breached their policies on inciting violence. But many users are calling the move hypocritical, given Twitter’s previously stated policy of not removing ‘news-worthy’ posts made by country leaders.

On Thursday, Twitter account @khamenei_ir posted that “Imam Khomeini’s verdict regarding Salman Rushdie is based on divine verses and just like divine verses, it is solid and irrevocable.” The ‘verdict’ in question was a death sentence – a fatwa – being placed on Rushdie for ‘blasphemy’ following the publication of his 1988 novel The Satanic Verses.

The @khamenei_ir account isn’t verified with Twitter’s blue tick, but it does have over half a million followers and displays no signs of being a parodic or satirical account.

Fellow tweeters reported the post to Twitter, and on Friday the platform confirmed to Buzzfeed that the offending tweet had been hidden, explaining that “It's against our rules to make specific threats of violence or wish for the serious physical harm, death, or disease of an individual or group of people."

Reactions to the move were typically divided – some thought it was a positive step while others said hiding the tweet didn’t go far enough and the account should be suspended. But many also pointed to what they viewed as inconsistency on Twitter’s part when it comes to implementing their stated policies.

Many users have sought to draw parallels between the Khamenei tweet and those of Donald Trump. The U.S. president is known for his prolific use of Twitter, and people have long complained about his posts allegedly containing ‘hateful’ or threatening statements.

But in January 2018 Twitter released a blog post stating they would not remove tweets from the world leaders because “blocking a world leader from Twitter or removing their controversial Tweets would hide important information people should be able to see and debate.” It’s this blog post that is fuelling much of the ire towards Twitter’s actions.

According to Twitter’s policies, the @khamenei_ir account will be in ‘read-only’ mode until the offending tweet has been deleted by the account owner.

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https://www.techspot.com/news/78787-twitter-hides-tweet-purportedly-iranian-supreme-leader.html

 

[brucek]

As an obvious first step, albeit one that maybe skips the more juicy policy question, is that any account seeking special permissions due to "world leader" status could start by getting verified first.

 

[VitalyT]

Only a supreme leader is allowed to publish a supreme crap, and pitch it as the nation’s wisdom.

 

[psycros]

Their comparing random venting from Trump to a DEATH WARRANT from the world's biggest sponsor of terrorism? That tells you everything you need to know about the liberal mind.

 

[Axle Grease]

Although not intentional, Twitter is doing the Supreme Old Fart a favour in hiding his tweet from the public. He may not receive the appropriate blowback.

 

[p51d007]

Surprised twitter doesn't ban Trump, and PROMOTE the iranian thug. It's in the "best interest" of the socialist mind set that run twitter, to promote hatred to the west.

 

[treetops]

It's Iranians saying its ok because Trump can do it. Not Americans, why would Americans have any idea of what some Iranian leader is tweeting?

 

[Danny101]

Verify the account and let it stand as an example. Leave it up for debate. Surely, it would be newsworthy and primed for debate. There's nothing to prevent:1) a warning label of incendiary language or even 2) an age restriction. I'm sure Khamenei doesn't mind. He did post it after all.

 

[Bats Dude]

Their comparing random venting from Trump to a DEATH WARRANT from the world's biggest sponsor of terrorism? That tells you everything you need to know about the liberal mind.[/QUOTE\

Their comparing random venting from Trump to a DEATH WARRANT from the world's biggest sponsor of terrorism? That tells you everything you need to know about the liberal mind.

psycros? Should be psychosis! Thereare just too many on the right in denial that their draft dodger 'leader' has serious mental aberrations, & that he needs mental help more than a golf club!