During a meeting dubbed Iran-Venezuela Cultural Relations, Iranian and Venezuelan academics and intellects strongly condemned Meta’s removal of the Instagram and Facebook accounts of Iranian leader Sayyed Ali Khamenei

A joint statement described Meta's decision as "proof of the absurdity of the West’s claim regarding freedom of expression."

This comes after Meta Platforms, Inc. removed Ayatollah Khamenei's Persian- and English-language accounts on Instagram.

In the inaugural ceremony at the Bolivarian University of Venezuela in the capital Caracas, messages from the ministers of culture of both nations were read to denounce the decision.

Iranian Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance Mohammad Mehdi Esmaili on his part said, “Freedom of expression seems only to be allowed as long as one does not criticize their oppressive policies.” 

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“The recent closure of the informative pages belonging to Imam Khamenei following his decisive support for the oppressed people of Palestine and his condemnation of the Zionist regime, which has the backing of the United States, is a clear testimony to that matter,” he added.

Esmaili also shed light on the atrocities in Gaza and accused those who claim to be human rights advocates of being the common enemies of justice-seeking nations, stressing that they deal with their opponents using sanctions, assassinations, and censorship.

Meanwhile, Minister of Culture of Venezuela Ernesto Villegas Poljak promised to counter Western influence by encouraging cultural diversity.

"We are dedicated to upholding our people's right to independent sovereignty and shaping an independent future while safeguarding the characteristics of our culture in a world that celebrates diversity and that respects all cultures equally."

The meeting emphasized how cultural interaction serves as a means of resistance and reinforces close relationships between the people of justice-seeking countries.

Just yesterday, at a meeting with Quran reciters on the first day of Ramadan in Iran, Sayyed Ali Khamenei stated that the Resistance is "standing strong" in the face of Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip and will ultimately bring zionists to their knees.

It is noteworthy that relations between Iran and Venezuela have recently grown within the framework of the two countries' 20-year development roadmap.

Historically, the two countries have had friendly and strong relations, especially during the era of the late socialist leader Hugo Chavez (1999-2013), which were further strengthened during the era of his successor, Nicolas Maduro.