Dictators Who Love Instagram: Bashar al-Assad & More (Photos)
It’s not just Assad’s distorted view. Nina Strochlic on tyrants’ shots from Syria, Chechnya, and Iran.
Via Instagram
Is Instagram the 21st-century propaganda machine of choice among the world's despots? On July 24, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad opened “the official Instagram account for the presidency of the Syrian Arab republic.” Posting pictures of himself and his wife, the leader of a country in the midst of a devastating war has drawn criticism for his out-of-touch faux pas. Assad isn't the only tyrant painting the app with cheery colors. Here are some other strongmen who use the social-media site for their own good.
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As the death toll in Syria's civil war hit 100,000 and the refugee count neared 2 million, President Bashar al-Assad found it to be the opportune time to open an Instagram account. Here he confers with a Syrian Army leader.
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Assad shakes hands with a Syrian Army unit in a tank.
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A concerned-looking Assad grips the hand of a wounded victim of war.
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First Lady Asma al-Assad embraces a Syrian woman.
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Chechnyan President Ramzan Kadyrov uses his Instagram account to post official statements. After the Boston Marathon bombings, he wrote: "Any attempts to link Chechnya and the Tsarnaevs, if indeed they are guilty, are futile," with the hashtags "#terroristact #Boston #consequence."
Kadyrov, who is accused of a string of human rights abuses, often posts photos of his family to his 173,146 followers. “It’s actually a very useful thing,” he once said of Instagram. “I now have the opportunity to monitor public opinion in real time.”
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The sun sets on Chechnya, as captured by the country's president.
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Thirty-six-year-old Kadyrov was once a rebel fighter.
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When Iran's Grand Ayatollah Ali Khamenei joined Instagram, Gawker proclaimed it "no longer cool."
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Who's that over your shoulder, Khamenei? The country's religious leader has been in power since 1989.
The Supreme Leader is also big on Twitter, with more then 13,000 followers.
A year ago, Vice did a spot-on fake hack of the ayatollah's account to make it more Instagram appropriate.
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