Grand Ayatollah Says High Speed Internet Is "Against Moral Standards" 542
An anonymous reader writes A Grand Ayatollah in Iran has determined that access to high-speed and 3G Internet is "against Sharia" and "against moral standards." However, Iran's President, Hassan Rouhani, plans to renew licenses and expand the country’s 3G cellular phone network. A radical MP associated with the conservative Resistance Front, warned: “If the minister continues to go ahead with increasing bandwidth and Internet speed, then we will push for his impeachment and removal from the cabinet.” “We will vigorously prevent all attempts by the [communication] minister to expand 3G technology, and if our warnings are not heeded, then the necessary course of action will be taken,” he added.
The key bit (Score:5, Informative)
The key bit FTA is here:
“All third generation [3G] and high-speed internet services, prior to realization of the required conditions for the National Information Network [Iran’s government-controlled and censored Internet which is under development], is against Sharia [and] against moral and human standards.”
In short the position is that if you have freedom you will abuse it. That's overall pretty similar to the thinking of al Qaida and ISIS. Strike up the banjos and play "Dueling Theocracy!" Oops, sorry, no music allowed. Or kite flying.
Re:If the Grand Ayatollah's against it.... (Score:5, Informative)
Religion isn't always right... they don't teach facts, they teach opinions.
Same thing from ultra-orthodox Jews. (Score:5, Informative)
Many ultra-orthodox rabbis who demand their followers not use uncensored smartphones or uncensored internet access. In 2012, a big anti-Internet rally for ultra-orthodox Jews was held in New York. [nytimes.com] "The siren song of the Internet entices us! It brings out the worst of us!" The event was streamed live and is summarized on YouTube. [youtube.com]
There are ultra-orthodox ISPs with filtering. The filtering is very stringent, [yeshivanet.com] based on a rabbi-approved whitelist. "That's all you get, and nothing else."
There are kosher cell phones [venishmartem.com]. "Kosher Phone has no camera, no Bluetooth capabilities, no memory card slot and cannot be connected to a computer."
That's in the US. In Israel, kosher cell phones are so locked down that only approved numbers can be called. Even rape crisis centers are blocked. [ynetnews.com]
Re:Maybe it would be good if the Ayatollah wins? (Score:5, Informative)
"Arab spring in Iran? Maybe?"
Very unlikely since the Iranians are not Arabs - they're Persians
Re:If the Grand Ayatollah's against it.... (Score:5, Informative)
The pope essentially said the same thing recently when he said that young people spend too much time on the Internet.
Did he? It looks like you don't quite have that right.
Pope Francis says the Internet is a 'gift from God' [latimes.com]
Pope Francis: Internet is a blessing [nypost.com]
The Pope's view is a bit more insightful and nuanced than you state.