Tehran (AsiaNews / Agencies) - The Iranian authorities decision to block "virtual private networks", VPNs, that allow access to bypassing government internet filters is being seen as a "preventive" move ahead of presidential elections this June.
The Iranian Constitution Article .34 in fact permits the State to restrict freedom of expression, declaring, "Publications and the press have freedom of expression except when there is infringement of the basic tenets of Islam or public rights." But neither "the general principles of Islam," nor "public rights" are constitutionally defined, which allows authorities to interpret them according to their wishes. It is a widespread filter system that prevents access to sites deemed "offensive or criminal".
Confirming yesterday blocking of
VPN, Ramezanali Sobhani-Fard, the head of parliament's information and
communications technology committee, said that "only legal and registered
VPN scan from now on be used."
The
authorities move is related to the June presidential elections, given what
happened in 2009, when the previous vote that saw President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
re-elected. A
result widely disputed - also dogged by allegations of fraud - which saw mass
demonstrations of the "Green Wave" movement (pictured). Tools
such as Facebook were used by the
protesters to pass information on public protests.
The
harsh repression seems to have virtually suppressed the Green Wave movement,
but apparently the authorities still believe it is simmering beneath the
surface and will do anything to prevent it from reigniting.