Iran Teachers’ Association Protests Internet Restriction Bill

On Thursday, August 5, the Iran Teachers’ Association issued a statement protesting an internet restriction bill, calling the implementation of “North Korea and China’s governance model” in Iran “impossible.”

In the statement, the association stated that the designers of the internet restriction bill, known as “Safeguarding the Virtual Space,” are well aware that this plan “contradicts the interests and public welfare of society.”

The statement further noted that implementing such a plan “pushes the problems of vast sections of society to their limits” and would only serve the “interests of certain power factions.”

The Teachers’ Association concluded by calling for “serious opposition” from civil institutions to the potential passage of the Virtual Space Safeguarding bill in order to prevent the implementation of dangerous policies by “a totalitarian ensemble” in the country.

Parliamentary representatives, following a vote on August 27 of the current year, moved the bill known as “Safeguarding the Rights of Virtual Space Users” one step closer to potential implementation.

Critics say that supporters of this bill are seeking to impose broader filtering and subsequently replace certain domestic applications.

The “Virtual Space Safeguarding” bill was placed on the agenda after Ayatollah Khamenei, the leader of the Islamic Republic, described the virtual space in Iran as “neglected” and criticized responsible institutions for not restricting it.

Source: Radio Farda