Iraq blocks at least 400 pornographic websites

Iraq's Minister for Communications, Hiyam al-Yasiri, on Friday decided to block all pornographic websites in the country, Iraq's State News Agency (INA) reported citing a statement by the ministry. 

A committee tasked by the minister has blocked 400 websites, Iraq's semi-official news al-Sabah newspaper reported.

A similar bill was passed in 2015 by the Iraqi parliament but never implemented. The transport and communications ministry of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) subsequently said it would not abide by the law. 

While the decision was widely welcomed, several others have argued that it is insufficient since the bill does not include social media platforms.  

According to Similar Web internet traffic checker, pornographic websites are among the most trending in Iraq.

Many Iraqi social media users wrote that many could still open porn websites by downloading a free VPN application.  

"I think the decision by the Iraqi government is good because it is for the general interest of the people of Iraq and the Kurdistan region," Omar Gulpi, a lawmaker from the Kurdistan Justice Group (KJG) in the Kurdistan parliament, told The New Arabs.

"Psychological, sociological and psychiatric scientific research have all proved that watching porn has major damages to the social, psychological, and moral aspects of individuals, especially the youth," Gulpi added. 

The MP further noted that 26 Kurdish lawmakers signed a petition asking the presidency of the Kurdistan parliament to take a similar step in the northern Kurdish region.

"The problem in Iraq, as well as in the Kurdistan region, is that obtaining free internet and mobile SIM cards is not fully organised by law. Every teenager can purchase a SIM card and have access to the internet. World countries have regulated this, and individuals below the age of 18 can never get easy access to SIM cards or free internet," he said.  

In August, KRG's minister of communication, Ano Jawhar, directed all internet services companies to have family packages enabling users to block pornographic content. However, no action was taken, and family packages are still unavailable in all internet service companies in the country.