CIT Minister Urged To Close Certain Hostile Social Networks

Tehran, Sept 21, IRNA – First Deputy of the Judiciary Hojatoleslam Gholam Hossein Mohseni Ejehei in a letter to Minister of Communication and Information Technology Mahmoud Vaezi has urged him to prepare the technical grounds and take speedy measures within one month for the closure of certain social networks such as “WhatsApp”, “Viber” and “Tango”. The letter said that in line with the order of the Judiciary Chief Ayatollah Sadeq Amoli Larijani, necessary measures should be taken within a month for the technical preparation of the ground for the closure and effective information control of the said networks. Otherwise, the letter said, the Judiciary in line with its inherent duties will take action for the closure of the social networks with criminal content and will legally deal with the offenders in each category according to the law. Massive publication of criminal content against Islamic ethics and public security, particularly wide dissemination of immoral material against the Founder of the Islamic Revolution Imam Khomeini in recent weeks have been mentioned by Ejehei as reasons for the closure of social networks such as “WhatsApp”, “Viber” and “Tango”. The letter said that some of the said networks were technically and contextually managed from outside the country by governments opposed to the Islamic Republic./end