Iran's judiciary has set new strict rules governing Internet content, banning the publication and spreading of material deemed to be against the Islamic regime or of a "depraved" nature, according to a report Tuesday.
The Iran newspaper reported that the new law covers 20 types of online violation, including publishing articles that insult Islamic values, Iran's leadership, senior clerics, revolutionary values and the ideas of late revolutionary leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini.
Quoting judicial spokesman Gholam Hussein Elham, the newspaper said the ban also covers web content that promotes depravity, smoking, drug addiction, financial corruption and gambling.
Elham said the law would apply to both Internet users and publishers in the Islamic Republic as well as the country's Internet Service Providers, adding that the judiciary had established a special department to investigate and prosecute Internet offences.
Furthermore, while the ban applies to web content published from Iran or hosted by Iranian ISP's, local service providers are also obliged to carefully filter Internet access to offending sites published overseas. (Albawaba.com)
© 2003 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
