Dr. Raghib Hussain Naeemi, Chairman of the Council of Islamic Ideology (CII), has ruled that Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) are un-Islamic when used for purposes like accessing blocked or illicit websites.
VPNs and Islamic Principles
In his claim, Dr. Raghib Hussain Naeemi stated that the state in Islam has to prevent every avenue which results in corruption. Islamic teachings and the council’s advice, for example, a prohibition on using VPNs to access objectionable material, are offered as rational approaches. As such, Dr. Naeemi clarifies that there is a prohibition in Shariah of using the internet or similar technologies which include VPNs, to reach materials that are otherwise banned.
Government’s Efforts and Recommendations
Dr. Naeemi appreciated the government’s action to restrict the use of VPNs and called on the authorities to take further action on technologies that promote deviance or lawlessness. He further explained that while VPNs are considered safe and keep personal information private, they are misused to find and visit inappropriate or immoral sites. The chairman explained that Islam allows performing any act as long as the intention and how the action is carried out are permissible. He argued that since most people employ VPNs to illicitly access material on the internet that is either illegal or already blocked, this use of VPNs amounts to ‘assisting sin’, which is clearly wrong under Sharia law. He further added that unless the laws in one’s country are in direct conflict with Islamic principles, all Muslims must obey such laws.
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Prior Consultations and Actions Provided
In the last consultation on May 30, 2023, the CII offered measures to deal with the abuse of social media networks and the issue of demeaning materials. Among these measures was a proposal that social media sites should be registered with the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) and the Government of Pakistan’s wider Cyber Crime Wing, prohibiting all VPNs and disseminating information via audio and video messages. Once again, Dr. Naeemi pointed out that there is nothing wrong in changing government restrictions on certain websites for the benefit of the people, as this only constitutes breaking the law, and violating Islamic principles.
Restrictions and Suggestions to Cover
The CII chairman asserted that ‘there is no bar on the use of any websites within the country which is meant for lawful recreation, information, or earning’. He urged immediate steps to curb the abuse of cyberspace, calling on the government to act and urging them to implement the council’s recommendations to protect the people’s morals and societal norms.
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Final Remarks
Dr. Raghib Hussain Naeemi’s statement demonstrates that technological advances must be made without forgetting Islamic tenets and legal prescriptions. Vowing to ban VPNs to block all circuits to immoral materials is part of the overall mission of preserving culture and morals in this age of information.