Council of Islamic Ideology Declares Use of VPN for Accessing Blocked Content as Unlawful

The Council of Islamic Ideology (CII) has declared that using Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) to bypass restrictions and access blocked or prohibited content is against Islamic principles.

In a statement, CII Chairman Dr. Raghib Naeemi highlighted that using the internet or software tools, including VPNs, to reach illegal or unethical material is forbidden in Sharia. He emphasized the government’s responsibility to take measures against sources of immorality and safeguard the nation’s moral and social fabric.

Dr. Naeemi urged authorities to immediately shut down apps and platforms that facilitate objectionable, blasphemous, or anti-state activities, underscoring that accessing restricted sites using VPNs is not permissible under Islamic law.