Truemors
is reporting from
Member
NP Rank:
NP Rank:
Iran blocks Facebook just before presidential elections
Share:
by Merry Rebel | May 25, 2009 at 01:25 am
905 views | 64 Recommendations | 5 comments
Islamic Republic of Iran, a theocratic state, has blocked user access to the renowned social networking site - Facebook.
The Iranian government has blocked access to the social networking site Facebook amid political jockeying for the June 12 presidential elections, according to the semi-official Iranian Labour News Agency.
This move seems to be a direct response to President Ahmadinejad's opponents using technology to reach voters.
Reformist candidate Mir Hossein Mousavi -- a former prime minister considered a threat to current hardline President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad -- created a Facebook page for his campaign that has more than 5,000 supporters on the site.
Photos
Those seeking access were denied access with a message in Farsi (Persian) saying, "Access to this site is not possible".
Those attempting to visit Facebook received a message in Farsi saying, "Access to this site is not possible," according to CNN personnel in Tehran.
ILNA (Iranian Labour News Agency) reported this move as a joint venture of Iran's intelligence ministry, judiciary and others.
ILNA reported the Masadiq Committee, made up of representatives from Iran's intelligence ministry, judiciary and others had ordered the action.
According to ILNA, no reason has been given for the block.
After a few hours, the blockage was lifted, but was then reinstated, ILNA said. No reason was given for the block.
Advertisement
NowPublic on Facebook
What is NowPublic?
NowPublic lets people work together to cover news events around the world.
Crowd Power
Merry Rebel
Glasgow, United Kingdom
Related Stories
Recommendations (64)
Babel-Fish
Negros Oriental, Philippines
Alida Antonia Cornelius
Ohio River Valley, Louisville, United States
Rob Walker
Toronto, Canada
Karl Gotthardt - albertacowpoke
Redwater, Alberta, Canada
Uwe Paschen
Narita, Chiba, Japan
Jarrett Martineau
Vancouver, Canada
Barbara McPherson
Nanaimo, Canada
Jordan Yerman
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
sidonie
New York, New York, United States
Most RecentMost Recommended Comments (5)
at 02:49 on May 25th, 2009
Thank you for the post on this news.
at 05:59 on May 25th, 2009
You're welcome, Paschen.
at 04:45 on May 25th, 2009
Its blocked on the countries IP address at a guess
at 08:53 on May 26th, 2009
Apparently, Facebook has been un-banned in Iran:
Source: latimesblogs.latimes.com
at 11:16 on May 26th, 2009
Thanks for the update, Jordan.