Facebook Said to Block Pages Critical of Muhammad to Avoid Shutdown in Turkey

By: Sebnem Arsu and Mark Scott | New York Times

ISTANBUL — To avoid being banned throughout Turkey, Facebook has blocked Turkish users’ access to a number of pages containing content that the authorities had deemed insulting to the Prophet Muhammad, according to a company employee with direct knowledge of the matter and a report by the state broadcaster TRT.

The company acted to comply with an order from a Turkish court, the employee said on Monday, speaking on the condition of anonymity because Facebook had not authorized the employee to speak publicly.