Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim found himself being flagged by Instagram recently after the social media platform determined that the Prime Minister had posted sensitive or potentially graphic content on his official account.
Specifically, Instagram flagged this post by the Malaysian Media Clubs Association (GKMM), which was cross-posted to Anwar’s and the Prime Minister’s Office’s (PMO) official accounts as collaborators. Currently, the social media platform covers the post with a ‘Sensitive content’ warning, but gives users the option to click through to view the post.
Graphic video triggers content warning
The post details the Media Qurban 2.0 event held in conjunction with Hari Raya Aidiladha, which was successfully co-organised by the PMO and GKMM across six states to strengthen community ties. It further revealed that Anwar and the PMO were contributors and collaborators who ensured the charity event's success this year.
So, why was the post censored on Instagram? Attached to the post is a graphic video of a cow being slaughtered by Media Qurban 2.0 participants, as part of the Aidiladha religious observances.
Hence, Instagram correctly flagged the post and limited its reach on the platform. At the time of writing, it had only garnered around 3,600 likes, despite being posted across three accounts, including Anwar’s personal account, which boasts over 1.3 million followers.
In the comments section, many netizens called out the Prime Minister for posting such a graphic video, with some urging respect for other cultures.
Beyond the rather questionable nature of a Prime Minister of a multicultural nation sharing such a gory scene, it is also quite ironic that it was posted by the Malaysian Media Clubs Association. As media practitioners, they should have known that such a video would be deemed inappropriate and subsequently flagged by social media algorithms.
Qurban etiquettes
Moreover, this issue has actually been addressed by Islamic authorities in the past. In 2018, the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia’s (JAKIM) Halal Hub Division took to Facebook to remind Malaysians to maintain etiquette and show respect for Qurban animals.
JAKIM’s Halal Hub Division shared a post by Kisah Zakat Malaysia, which referenced the opinion of the Penang Mufti, Datuk Dr Wan Salim Wan Mohd Noor.
The post listed what not to do before, during, and after slaughtering sacrificial animals:
- Recording and uploading photos with the sacrificial animal
- Recording and uploading videos of the sacrificial animal in its dying moments
- Recording and uploading photos featuring the head or specific parts of the sacrificial animal that may be sensitive to certain parties or other communities
- Recording and uploading videos of unbecoming or undignified situations during the slaughtering process
- Recording and uploading photos of the slaughtered animal in a state that looks ‘agonising’
The post further noted that if individuals still wish to take photos or videos, they should only record respectful footage that showcases the beauty of Islam, rather than content that could trigger misunderstandings and negative perceptions.
Protecting the purity of Qurban
Meanwhile, in 2019, Perlis Mufti Datuk Dr Asri Zainul Abidin was quoted by MalaysiaGazette as advising Muslims in the country not to upload photos or videos of sacrificial slaughter onto social media or any other public platforms.
According to Dr Asri, more famously known as Dr Maza, the sight of animals suffering during the slaughter, or the way they are handled, could cause non-Muslims to view the purity of the Qurban negatively.
With that in mind, let us all be more mindful of what we choose to share on social media. In a digital age where content can be broadcast globally in an instant, the responsibility lies with each user, from ordinary citizens to high-ranking officials and media organisations, to exercise discretion.
Presenting religious obligations or cultural practices without proper context can easily lead to misinterpretation, particularly in a diverse, multicultural nation like Malaysia.
Saiful Ridzaimi (saiful.ridzaimi@gmail.com) is a content creator under the Newswav Creator programme, where you get to express yourself, be a citizen journalist, and at the same time monetize your content & reach millions of users on Newswav. Log in to creator.newswav.com and become a Newswav Creator now!
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