A bill aimed at further tightening internet control in Iran has been reintroduced in the Iranian parliament in a last minute bid to deepen social repression as the current parliament comes to its season's end.
The ILNA news agency reported that the 'Legislation to Protect Cyberspace Users' aims to intensify internet restrictions and with the new parliament set to officially commence on May 27, there is a final push to enact the bill before the changeover.
Over the past two decades, Iran has routinely blocked websites and social media applications, though many citizens circumvent the restrictions using VPNs (Virtual Private Networks) and other tools.
Legal expert Kambiz Norouzi said the new measures will not succeed, as people find alternative ways to get online. "Fighting realities only leads to failure," he said.
Mohammad Javad Azari Jahromi, Minister of Communications during Hassan Rouhani's administration, said the move is a desperate last minute attempt to push through the repressive measures. "The planners have lost hope for passing the plan in the next parliament considering its composition. With the current performance, they believe there is a high chance that the government will be a one-term administration, therefore they want to pass a law to permanently remove the internet development mandate from the control of administrations."
A recent report by the Tehran E-commerce Association has pointed fingers directly at President Ebrahim Raisi, alleging his role in the ongoing internet censorship efforts. The report criticizes the direct involvement of all three branches of government in censorship processes, particularly highlighting the President's responsibility due to his appointment power over the committee that filters websites.
"Iran's internet situation is akin to that of poor and underdeveloped countries, but the main difference is that in Iran's case, these conditions are self-inflicted," the report added.
However, hardliner Tehran representative Mostafa Mirsalim expressed his frustrations about the stalling of the legislation in parliament, citing the "lawlessness" online as causing significant societal damage.
The resurgence of interest in tightening internet restrictions traces back to July 2021 when Ali Khamenei, Iran's supreme leader, criticized the "unrestrained" nature of cyberspace.
Critics argue that the approval of the plan will mark a shift towards a more security-oriented approach by the regime towards the internet, potentially leading to increased censorship and restricted access.
Following the nationwide protests that erupted in mid-September 2022 after Mahsa Amini was killed in a morality police detention center, several popular internet services, including Instagram and WhatsApp were blocked by the government.
Iran not only blocks a wide range of websites including major social media platforms and international services like Google Play but also implements a reverse filtering system known as Iran Access. This system restricts users outside Iran from accessing numerous Iranian sites, including those of government bodies, banks, and financial institutions. The measure aims to lower the risk of foreign hacking attacks which frequently target government organizations.
The recent 35th Tehran International Book Fair, taking place from 8 to 18 May, has become a battleground for Iran’s intensified crackdown on unveiled women.
This crackdown comes as part of Iran’s “Noor Plan” initiative introduced in April to clampdown on unveiled women, implemented across the country at the directive of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei.
The presence of hijab enforcement officers and the use of drones equipped with cameras to identify women not adhering to the dress code has sparked outrage among attendees.
Quadcopters, fitted with cameras, were deployed to identify women not adhering to hijab regulations, eyewitnesses told Iranwire on Friday. These drones captured images of the individuals and transmitted their locations, facilitating direct confrontations by the hijab enforcers.
Reports suggest that women who tried to enter the Book Fair without wearing hijabs were refused entry, with security forces positioned at each entrance.
Fair attendees' reports on the platform X further illustrate the atmosphere at the fair, with one user describing the overwhelming presence of police officers, and billboards promoting hijab compliance.
Another user expressed her dismay with her experience of attending the fair reporting heavy police presence, tents, vans, guards, and security personnel “to ensure that any woman without hijab can be arrested like a terrorist.”
Another user recounted being turned away from the entrance due to her "trousers being too short" highlighting the stringent enforcement of dress codes.
Furthermore, criticisms were directed at the content and atmosphere of the fair, with complaints about high book prices, and the dominance of religious and state-affiliated publications.
Many Iranians mocked the juxtaposition of banners at the fair promoting “quotes” from literary figures like Leo Tolstoy with messages advocating for chastity and hijab. In last year’s bookfair, another Tolstoy quote was promoted, which was identified as a fake one by researchers.
This year’s Tolstoy banner quoted the Russian writer, stating:
“In the West, women are given freedom, but they still see it as a means of pleasure. The reason for calling the status of women slavery in the West is nothing but men's desire to use women as a means of pleasure.”
This also appears to be a fake quote, as searches did not turn up any Tolstoy statement to this effect.
One X user mocked the banner and stated that if Tolstoy knew that years after his death he would appear on a banner at a Tehran book fair, “not for the promotion of his literary works but to justify the abuse of women, he would die once again in his grave”
Another billboard quoted Wendy Shalit, an American conservative writer, ironically with an unveiled image of the author stating:
“There is a general rule nowadays, the more respect you want, the more modest you should dress.”
Meanwhile, in 2020 Shalit stated on X that she “does not support the Iranian government and that she was “keenly aware of their mistreatment & abuse of women” further adding that they are using her name “to spread lies” against Iranian journalist women’s rights activist Masih Alinejad.
Additionally, another billboard quoted Will Durant, agnostic American author and historian stating:
“Women realized that flirting is a source of taunt and humiliation and they taught this to their daughters that chastity makes a woman strong.”
Moreover, in a bizarre display, photos emerged of books being pierced and arranged into a makeshift arch, presumably as a decorative element for the fair. However, the unconventional art piece was met with criticism and ultimately relegated to a corner.