-Caveat Lector- Home - Yahoo! - Help http://english.hk.dailynews.yahoo.com/headlines/technology/afp/article.h tml?s=hke/headlines/010513/technology/afp/Tehran_police_crack_down _on_Internet__400_cybercafes_closed__paper.html Tehran police crack down on Internet, 400 cybercafes closed: paper TEHRAN, May 13 (AFP) - Authorities have closed hundreds of Tehran's cybercafes in the past several days as part of a general crackdown on growing use of the internet, a pro-reform newspaper reported on Sunday. The Hambastigi paper said around 400 internet cafes, all of which have only opened in the past three or four years, had been ordered to shut their doors by police. Owners are being told they now need permits for their cafes as well as for use of the internet itself, and will have to register with a conservative- run trade union for computer and business-machine operators. "The police came yesterday and wanted to shut us down," a 20-year-old Tehran cybercafe employee, who gave her name only as Leila, told AFP Sunday. "They said from now on we must be registered with the authorities." Internet use has exploded since the 1997 election of President Mohammad Khatami, who has moved to liberalise Iranian society in the face of stiff conservative opposition. An e-mail address has become a must for young people from the wealthier sectors of Iranian society, as well as among those less well-off. "They simply wany to cut our phone links to the internet," said cybercafe owner Reza, who also declined to give his full name. He said he was already losing business after being forced to take out four computers and put the blame for the crackdown on the state-run telephone company, which he said was trying to monopolise Iran's internet business. "It's the phone company behind this, because they don't want people to come here anymore and be able to connect and talk abroad for hours," he said. Chat rooms, normal e-mail and especially online phone services are cutting into state phone company revenues. Hambastigi said the cybercafe closures risk putting around 5,000 people out of work and that the move contradicts Iran's moves toward privatisation and greater openness to the outside world. Leila said that hundreds of young Iranians have been coming to her cafe each month and taking advantage of the cheapest way to communicate with friends and family abroad, especially in Europe and the United States. "This is a new restriction being imposed on young people," she said, adding the owner was trying to get the necessary paperwork and that, if he is unsuccessful, "I'll be unemployed again." Copyright © 1994-2001 Yahoo! Inc. All rights reserved. -- Best Wishes People demand freedom of speech as a compensation for the freedom of thought which they never use. -Kierkegaard <A HREF="http://www.ctrl.org/";>www.ctrl.org</A> DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion & informational exchange list. Proselytizing propagandic screeds are unwelcomed. Substance—not soap-boxing—please! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory'—with its many half-truths, mis- directions and outright frauds—is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRLgives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== Archives Available at: http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html <A HREF="http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html";>Archives of [EMAIL PROTECTED]</A> http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/ <A HREF="http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/";>ctrl</A> ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om
