Web Desk 
Nov 18, 2024
Renowned Pakistani religious scholar Maulana Tariq Jameel has criticised the Council of Islamic Ideology's (CII) recent fatwa declaring the use of virtual private networks (VPNs) as un-Islamic.
Speaking to a private news channel, Jameel termed the decision a "mental problem" and disagreed with its logic.
“I don’t know which Sharai council has given the fatwa. By this logic, mobile phones are also prohibited because there is so much to see without a VPN. In my opinion, this fatwa isn’t right,” he said.
The CII announced the fatwa on Friday, stating that VPN usage to access “immoral or illegal content” goes against Sharia and contributes to the “spread of evil.” It praised the state’s decision to impose restrictions on VPNs, calling it a commendable step.
Meanwhile, many internet users reported restricted VPN access and poor connectivity. The federal government has mandated that all VPN users register their networks by November 30, 2024, to avoid disruption.
Maulana Jameel added, “This is a mental problem. In my opinion, this isn’t right.”
