The Council of Islamic Ideology (CII) in Pakistan has deemed Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) un-Islamic, arguing they enable access to prohibited content. CII Chairman Allama Raghib Naeemi explained that using VPNs to bypass restrictions for immoral or blasphemous material contradicts Islamic principles, endorsing government measures to block VPNs as a means of preserving societal values.
Religious scholar Maulana Tariq Jamil criticized the decision as “narrow-minded,” pointing out its impracticality. He argued that by the same logic, mobile phones should also be banned due to their potential to access objectionable material without VPNs.
Read more: PTA Initiates Nationwide VPN Blocking
The ruling has sparked a public backlash on social media, with many questioning whether government officials who reportedly use VPNs for restricted platforms will comply with the guidelines. Critics also highlight that while VPNs can be exploited for illegal purposes, banning them disregards their legitimate uses for privacy and access to restricted information.
This decision has fueled a broader debate in Pakistan about balancing religious values with modern technology and personal freedoms.
