The Council of Islamic Ideology (CII) in Pakistan has issued a clarification regarding its previous statement declaring the use of Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) un-Islamic. CII Chairman Dr Raghib Hussain Naeemi stated that the November 15th fatwa, which sparked significant controversy and criticism, contained a clerical error.

He explained that the word “not” was inadvertently omitted from the statement, leading to a misinterpretation that VPN use is inherently against Islamic principles.

Dr Naeemi emphasized that the CII has not declared VPNs un-Islamic in and of themselves. Instead, the CII’s concern focuses on the potential misuse of VPNs for activities deemed un-Islamic, such as spreading blasphemy, promoting religious hatred, or facilitating extremism and terrorism.

The CII chairman further elaborated on the council’s stance on social media, stating that while these platforms can be effective mediums for public expression, their use for purposes contrary to Islamic teachings—including blasphemy, religious hatred, extremism, and terrorism—would render their usage un-Islamic.

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This clarification comes as the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) prepares to implement a nationwide crackdown on unregistered VPNs starting December 1st, following a grace period extension until November 30th.

The PTA’s action is driven by concerns about the misuse of unregistered VPNs for illicit activities, such as circumventing internet restrictions and accessing prohibited content. The CII’s revised statement aims to address the confusion caused by the initial fatwa and clarify its position on the use of VPNs and social media within the context of Islamic principles.