Facebook disables my profile because my last name is Istanbul

My facebook profile was disabled by facebook admin without warning last night. They claim that I'm using a "fake name" because my last name is Istanbul. My last name has been Istanbul since the day I was born.

I have been locked out of my account and have no recourse other than to email them and wait. Even though I am willing and able to provide them with proof of my name and identity, they have not acknowledged my offer in this regard. My multiple appeals through email seem to be falling on deaf ears.

Today they disabled my sister's account for the same reason. My mother and cousin, whose last names are also Istanbul, were forced to misspell their last names in order open their accounts recently. This is both ironic and contradictory to facebook's official policy on the use of fake names: "We do not allow users to register with fake names, to impersonate any person or entity, or to falsely state or otherwise misrepresent themselves or their affiliations."

I find it frustrating that they have disabled my account without warning. They have not told me if or when they will be reinstating my profile. In the meantime I have been cut off from all my contacts, and the content in my account, which belongs to me.

I can't help but feel that I'm being discriminated against because of my un-American sounding last name.

You can show your support by joining this facebook group that my friend Clare started for me.