Before the June 28 election, Iranian presidential contenders debated internet restrictions and the hijab legislation on state television. Six presidential contenders debated national problems in the third round.
The only reformist contender, Masoud Pezeşkiyan, said that internet bans are only justified in emergencies and harmful in regular times. He said “If elected president, I will remove many of the internet bans and restrictions.”
Pezeşkiyan said, “Just as women previously could not be forced to remove their hijabs, we cannot force them to wear it now.”
The single cleric candidate, Mostafa Purmohammadi, said the internet curbs had gone too far. “Filtering was initially necessary, but its continuation has become problematic,” he said.
Due to these limitations, a VPN mafia has emerged, draining residents’ funds and posing security dangers, Purmohammadi said. He accepted the legal hijab necessity but stressed that it should not be coerced. He vowed to eliminate the legislation penalizing noncompliant women if he becomes president.
Except during turmoil or riots, Conservative candidate Mohammad Bagher Kalibaf opposed internet restrictions. Due to these limitations, VPN use rose to 67%, creating economic and societal damage.
Kalibaf said “tension and violence” are ineffectual and dangerous for hijab enforcement. He called for an end to police interventions that cause tragedies.
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