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Iran lifts Facebook, Twitter bans

by on17 September 2013

Tweet the Casbah

The Islamic Republic of Iran seems to be coming to its senses. Earlier this year the country elected reformist Hassan Rouhani as the new president, although we will miss Ahmadinejad’s antics at the UN.

Unlike his predecessor, Rouhani has already used social media to comment on world events and even send Rosh Hashanan greetings to the Jewish community. There is even talk of rapprochement with the west on Iran’s controversial nuclear programme.

To top it all off, as of Monday internet users in Iran can access Twitter and Facebook without restrictions. Usually they had to get round a government firewall to have their voice heard. Iranian authorities started blocking social media in the aftermath of the failed revolution of 2009. With Ahmadinejad out of the picture, fewer people should take to the streets.

The move could also get Rouhani a bit more support in progressive circles and irk hard-liners. Persian Spring anyone?

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