Renowned Pakistani religious scholar Maulana Tariq Jameel has termed the latest declaration/fatwa of the Council of Islamic Ideology against virtual private networks (VPNs) as a wrong decision and a ‘mental problem’.
“I don’t know which Sharai council has given the fatwa. By this logic, mobile phones are also prohibited because there is so much to see without a VPN. In my opinion, this fatwa isn’t right,” he said while talking to a private news channel.
He further said, “This is a mental problem. In my opinion, this isn’t right”.
The scholar’s remarks come after the Council of Islamic Ideology on Friday declared the use of VPNs as un-Islamic.
The council said using VPNs to view “immoral or illegal content” is against Sharia and could lead to the “spread of evil”.
It said, “The state’s move to ban VPNs is commendable, therefore, we support and appreciate these steps”.
It bears mentioning that multiple internet users across Pakistan reported on Friday night that they were experiencing restricted access to VPNs, alongside poor internet connectivity. The federal government has set a deadline of November 30, 2024, for individuals/entities to register their VPNs to avoid restricted usage.