The hugely popular social media site Facebook has banned Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan, right-wing conspiracy theorist Alex Jones and several others for hate speech. Facebook said Thursday that the individuals violated its policy against instigating violence.

"Individuals and organizations who spread hate or attack or call for the exclusion of others on the basis of who they are have no place on Facebook … regardless of ideology," a spokeswoman said.

They are also barred from Facebook's photo-sharing site, Instagram. Facebook did not say whether any specific posts from those named led to the ban.

Jones is best known for theories claiming the government was behind the 9/11 terror attacks and that the Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre in Connecticut in 2012 was a hoax. He angrily responded to the ban, saying Facebook had "defamed" him.

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Another far-right commentator banned, Paul Joseph Watson, has been accused of racism and intense hatred of Muslims. He said he did not break any of Facebook's rules and called on like-minded commentators to pressure the Trump administration to take action on their behalf.

Farrakhan, the veteran leader of the black nationalist group Nation of Islam, has long been accused of anti-Semitism and black separatism. He has not responded to the Facebook ban. Other far-right personalities barred from Facebook are Paul Nehlen, Laura Loomer and Milo Yiannopoulos. (VOA)