Freedom of expression? Facebook removes Hamza Ali Abbasi's post about Kashmir

LAHORE (Staff Report) - World's largest social media network, Facebook, has removed a post of Hamza Ali Abbasi in which he praised a pro-freedom fighter, Burhan Wani, of Indian-held Kashmir, the actor claimed.

In the removed post, Abbasi said: "Look at this man. He is not an ISI agent, he is not a Mullah inspired Pakistani funded militant. He is Burhan Wani Shaheed. A KASHMIRI who joined the freedom struggle of Kashmir when his brother was killed by Indian Army. If KASHMIR issue is not resolved according to the will of Kashmiris and UN Resolutions, we have another PALESTINE in the making right in our backyard. #IAmBurhanWani #BurhanWaniShaheed #Kashmir," said the status update on Abbasi's Facebook before it was removed."

However, the Facebook administration not removed the post but also suspended the account of Hamza Ali Abbasi following the post. The account was restored later on.

In a tweet, Abbasi confirmed the removal of his Facebook post.

Shabaash Facebook. Day 10 of Indian crufew in Kashmir, more than 60 martyred & we cant talk about it. #FreeKashmir pic.twitter.com/iwuL3Kbuev

— Hamza Ali Abbasi (@iamhamzaabbasi) July 18, 2016

Afterwards, in a statement to media, the actor said that the flag bearers of "Freedom of Speech" reacted in an absurd way for raising a voice for the victims of Indian aggression.

Previously in January 2015 as well, Facebook removed Abbasi's a post in which he had compared ridiculing Islam to called a black person a n***** or describing Hitler as the messiah.

However, the action was reversed when Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg jumped in and termed it a mistake by the social media portal.

"I don't think this should have been blocked. Our team might have made a mistake," Zuckerberg said while answering to a comment on his profile. 

Recently, some activists from Kashmir also hurled censorship allegations against Facebook.

Facebook censors news from besieged #Kashmir, takes down articles & pictures, and disables accounts! #BurhanWani pic.twitter.com/G7TWW9uO93

— Huma Dar (@baalegibreel) July 10, 2016

It is also pertinent to be mentioned here that Burhan Wani was killed by Indian forces in Occupied Kashmir about two weeks ago. The killing sparked protests and a severe crackdown by Indian forces in the valley. At least 40 people have so far been killed Indian forces in

At least 40 people have so far been killed and over a thousand were injured by Indian forces in last ten days alone while the curfew remains imposed in Kashmir on the twelfth day.