Iran election candidate supports satellite/Internet censoring

Iran Focus: Tehran, Jun. 11 – Iran’s former paramilitary police chief and presidential hopeful said in an interview with a state-run daily that he supported Internet censorship and state control over satellite channels. Mohammad-Baqer Qalibaf, until recently commander of the State Security Forces and a top brass in the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, told the daily Keyhan, “We support the principle of Internet filtering and it’s the right thing to do”. Iran Focus

Tehran, Jun. 11 – Iran’s former paramilitary police chief and presidential hopeful said in an interview with a state-run daily that he supported Internet censorship and state control over satellite channels.

Mohammad-Baqer Qalibaf, until recently commander of the State Security Forces and a top brass in the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, told the daily Keyhan, “We support the principle of Internet filtering and it’s the right thing to do”.

On state censorship of satellite programs, Qalibaf said, “Sanitizing the content of satellite programs and the Internet is a priority. We must control these broadcasts and that’s why censors are required”.

Qalibaf, a hardliner, is among four of the eight candidates who are standing to become president who have a background as top commanders of the IRGC.