Instagram’s “Community Guidelines” stipulate that “graphic images for sadistic pleasure or to glorify violence is never allowed.” However, Instagram insists it is under no obligation to pre-screen any images.
That may explain why, until a couple days ago a controversial Instagram account called @Iraqiswat was rapidly gaining followers for their graphic posts and comment polls that would decide whether or not an ISIS prisoner lived or died.
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Take this for example. This post, made Monday said, in part:
“We have arrested one of isis in south of Mosul… You can vote For (kill him or let him go)…We will post his fate after one houer…”
A couple hours after the post, came this one saying “Thanks for vote”:
The Instagram account also features anti-ISIS memes and pictures bashing ISIS supporters. Posts like this:
The account is said to be run by an Iranian-linked rebel group, and those who post to the account have angrily called Americans out who have ripped on Iraqi troops in the comments.
Now it looks like the fun is over due to a complaint that the account holders allege was ISIS. They shared this sentiment in a post featuring Abo Azrael who is also known as the Iraqi Rambo.
One leading blog summarized this account and the cult-hit status it achieved this way:
At a time when combatants on all sides of the conflict are using social media to rally support and undermine their foes, trial by Instagram adds another, more troubling dimension to the mix. It transcends the digital sphere, giving people around the world an opportunity to play — or at least feel like they’re playing — a direct role in a war being waged in the remote villages and desert plains of the Middle East.
No word yet if there are other accounts that are similar or if @Iraqiswat will return but here is one more post for you to check out:
Do you know of any other anti-ISIS social media accounts like this? Share them in the comments below!
