Here’s Why Instagram And Facebook Had Blocked ‘#Sikh’ From Its Platforms

In a major goof-up, Instagram and Facebook recently apologised for unintentionally blocking the #Sikh from its platforms for over three months. The message that popped when users tried to use the hashtag said that the hashtag did not meet its community guidelines.

We have unblocked the hashtag #sikh on Instagram and are working to unblock #sikh on Facebook. We're investigating why this happened. We will follow up here later today with more information.

— Instagram Comms (@InstagramComms) June 3, 2020

Instagram’s PR team (@Instagramcomms) on Thursday accepted the same after a sea of angry tweets by the Sikh community and other users called out the social media giants on the microblogging site.

Thanks for your patience today. We investigated this issue and found that these hashtags were mistakenly blocked on March 7th following a report that was inaccurately reviewed by our teams.

— Instagram Comms (@InstagramComms) June 3, 2020

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The Instagram review team said that the #sikh was blocked on Instagram on March 7. “We investigated this issue and found that these hashtags were mistakenly blocked on March 7th following a report that was inaccurately reviewed by our teams,” the account tweeted.

We became aware that these hashtags were blocked today following feedback we received from the community, and quickly moved to unblock them. Our processes fell down here, and we’re sorry.

— Instagram Comms (@InstagramComms) June 3, 2020

The Instagram PR handle also admitted that the timing was incredibly painful for the Sikh community, as the first week of June (1984) saw Operation Blue Star unfold, an Indian military operation ordered by the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi to remove the militant leader Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale from Harmandir Sahib (Golden Temple) in Amritsar, Punjab. The move was widely panned by the Sikh community.

This is an incredibly important, painful time for the Sikh community. We designed hashtags to allow people to come together and share with one another. It’s never our intention to silence the voices of this community, we are taking the necessary steps so this doesn’t happen again

— Instagram Comms (@InstagramComms) June 3, 2020

People had called out Instagram and Facebook on Twitter in a series of tweets.

Ridiculous that @Facebook and @Instagram have both banned the hashtag #Sikh.

Will you join us in asking them to remove this ban? pic.twitter.com/arnSIg683G

— Simran Jeet Singh (@simran) June 3, 2020

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This Actually makes my blood boil, the hashtag #Sikh is being censored on Instagram!! Sikhs are being targeted and silenced for speaking up of the genocide of 1984! Absolutely despicable @instagram ! Please raise for awareness guys, I've tried it myself and doesn't work! pic.twitter.com/U89z4AljiN

— 2023 – The Chronicles of Chaz 🕐 (@ChazMeister88) June 3, 2020

Hi @instagram, we see you blocked #Sikh from your hashtag list. Would appreciate if you could unblock it as it is providing important information and remembrance about attacks that took place in 1984 at the Golden Temple. 🙏🏽

— Panjabi Hit Squad (@PanjabiHitSquad) June 3, 2020

The fact that #sikh on insta has been blocked is actually so fucked up. Let me make one thing clear, the reason why we are increasingly raising awareness right now is because it is our Month of remembrance. The 1984 Sikh genocide happened in June. JUNE 1984. We’ve had NO JUSTICE.

— Preets (@PREETI_JANDU) June 3, 2020

The blocking of #Sikh by @instagram at a time when #Sikhs are remembering the atrocities of 1984.

We ask you @instagram what the reason for this blocking is, to suppress the truth?

Let us all ask them the same question@SikhPA @sgsssouthall @gngsmethwick @basicsofsikhi pic.twitter.com/Ye7MHg8H22

— Sikh 2 Inspire (@Sikh2Inspire) June 3, 2020

Dear @instagram, Sikhs worldwide are shocked at hashtag #Sikh being blocked. Receiving the following message, “we restrict certain content and actions to protect our community” when we use hashtag #Sikh. For this awful & discriminatory experience, @InstagramComms must answer. pic.twitter.com/ZiL1qqP5Do

— Harjinder Singh Kukreja (@SinghLions) June 3, 2020

Self Respect.

Not the first time, nor the last time, someone tries to block Sikhs, our rights, or our history.#Sikh#NeverForget1984 pic.twitter.com/bsUxWYferl

— Jaskaran Sandhu (@JaskaranSandhu_) June 3, 2020

The military operation at Golden Temple was avenged by Sikh bodyguards of Indira Gandhi who assassinated her four months after Operation Blue Star.

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The assassination led to anti-Sikh riots across the country wherein thousands of Sikhs in the country were killed.