Messenger: Iranian justice bans telegram

May 1, 2018

Telegram is now officially banned in Iran. The citizens of the country should instead use the Iranian in-house development "Soroush" - but this is by far not as popular as the secure messenger.

The Iranian judicial authority has now officially ordered the ban on the country's popular communication app Telegram. According to the Tasnim news agency, the ban, which had already been signed off, should apply immediately. Because of the encryption Telegram is popular with oppositionists in many countries.

After months of discussion, this has ultimately led clergy and hardliners to prevail over President Hassan Ruhani, who opposes the ban. The ban is therefore viewed by observers as a major domestic defeat for Ruhani, his government and the entire reform movement in the country.

"Voice of conscience"
The hardliners want people to use the messenger "Soroush" instead - translated as "voice of conscience". The app developed in Iran is not as popular as Telegram. Telegram currently has more than 40 million users in Iran, Soroush 5 million, according to unconfirmed data.

Soroush offers users emojis in the form of little veiled women with political messages. The black-veiled figurines, for example, hold posters with slogans such as "Down with Israel" or "Down with the USA". Some of the inscriptions are also directed against dissidents and freemasons.

Protests in Russia
Also a Moscow court had ordered a blockade of the chat service Telegram in Russia, whereas on Monday thousands of people demonstrated. The opposition Alexey Navalny joined the rally on Monday in the Russian capital. According to media, between 7,000 and 12,000 people took part in the protest.

The background is that the secret service demands that FSB get the encryption of the program. The Russian telegram founder Pawel Durow refuses but so far. (With dpa material) / (vbr)