DHAKA: Iran’s government should legalise access to social-networking websites including Twitter and Facebook.

Iran’s culture and Islamic guidance minister Ali Jannati says, reports gulfnews.com.

‘Not only Facebook, but other social networks should be accessible and the illegal qualification should be removed,’ Jannati said, according to the official Islamic Republic News Agency.

Iran currently blocks access to websites it considers politically sensitive and to social-networking sites, which activists used in 2009 to organise street protests after a disputed presidential vote.

President Hassan Rouhani, who was elected in June and has a Twitter account with more than 122,000 followers, has pledged to allow more social and press freedom and reduce state ‘policing’ of Iranians’ private lives.

Several Iranian officials, including foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and foreign ministry spokeswoman Marzieh Afkham, have Facebook or Twitter accounts, or both.

BDST: 1638 HRS, NOV 06, 2013
RoR/GCP