Analysis by PMOI/MEK
6 May 2018--The subject of blocking Telegram, a popular messaging app used by over 40 million people across Iran, is on the table again. This case is resulting in major rifts within the Iranian regime. Despite all the dilemmas Tehran is going through, has Telegram actually been filtered or restricted?
Internet users in Iran are resorting to anti-filtering apps to bypass all obstacles and the scope of restrictions the regime can impose this time around is far below the December/January uprising circumstances. The Iranian people were initially caught off guard during that period until users obtained anti-filtering apps. This forced Tehran to lift the blockage.
Iranian parliamentary speaker Ali Larijani explained at the time that 30 million Iranian users were able to bypass all blockages through the use of anti-filtering apps. This time around the people are far more prepared.
Iranian President
Hassan Rouhani is now on the defensive, claiming to oppose any blocking of Telegram. He wrote on his Instagram website:
“The government’s policy is based on providing a safe internet environment… To this day no social media or messenger platform has, or will be blocked by this government. The recent blocking of Telegram was not implemented or approved by the government.”
His remarks caused a major stir and resulted in negative reactions from the population and even the regime’s own officials.
Abdulla Nosseri, from Rouhani’s so-called reformists faction wrote:
“I believe the President should say this was an order and a conclusion made by the entire apparatus… It is not correct for the President to apparently have a biased position on this issue… Mr. Rouhani should clarify his position by telling the truth: Are you for or against blocking?”
Iran’s own media are also acknowledging their failure on this subject.
Islamic Republic daily:
“We must take this historic reality into consideration that sanctioning, confiscating and blocking Telegram will fail, as they failed in regards to the VCR and satellite dishes… It is worth noting that all the religious people, revolutionaries and those thumping their chests for the regime are using anti-filtering apps to gain access to Telegram…”
Rouhani advisor Hesameddin Ashena:
“We won’t be able to indefinitely block Telegram… These measures will have political consequences domestically and raise serious human rights concerns internationally…”
Far beyond a technological failure, this will be a major defeat for the entire apparatus. Even if the Iranian regime is able to completely block Telegram or any other social media platform, will the main issue at hand be resolved?
Sharq daily:
“It is quite possible that we might suddenly face an unanticipated turn of events. Whatever this may be, it will engulf the entire country. It is not important these predictions become a reality or not. What is important is to understand that Iran’s policies will change significantly.”
The Iranian regime’s failure to block Telegram is becoming an all-out failure for this regime’s general policies. Tehran is no longer able to fully impose censorship and crackdown, the very pillars that have maintained this fascist regime in power.
As a result, the Iranian regime’s future is in question.
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