CII chief says VPN fatwa was a ‘typo’ error

Council of Islamic Ideology (CII) Chairman Allama Dr. Raghib Naeemi has clarified his VPN fatwa, attribtuing his previous statement to a “typo” error.

In a statement that sparked widespread criticism, CII Chief Naeemi had declared VPNs un-Islamic. He had also urged lawmakers to align legislation with Sharia principles.

However, the comments were quickly challenged by politicians, digital rights activists, and religious scholars, who questioned the proclamation.

On Monday, Naeemi stated that it was not the use of VPNs itself that was un-Islamic, but rather their misuse.

He further explained in a press conference that the controversial statement was a “typo mistake” made in his Friday sermon. According to Naeemi, the word “not” was inadvertently left out, which led to the misunderstanding.

He reassured the public that VPNs are not inherently forbidden under Sharia. The council’s position is that VPNs, when used for legitimate purposes like communication, education, or business, are permissible.

However, the use of VPNs to access offensive or unlawful content is deemed impermissible.

Naeemi also urged the use of registered VPNs, which are subject to government regulation, while advising against unregistered ones.