[Dean's World] Dave Price: Iranian Islamofascism vs. Internet Insurrection

[notify at powerblogs.com]

Posted by Dave Price:
Iranian Islamofascism vs. Internet Insurrection
http://www.deanesmay.com/posts/1161187580.shtml


   It's [1]been said that Iran's theocracy is now entering its Stalinist
   phase. More evidence for that argument today:

     TEHRAN (Reuters) - Iran's internet service providers (ISPs) have
     started reducing the speed of Internet access to homes and cafes
     based on new government-imposed limits, a move critics said
     appeared to be part of a clampdown on the media.
     An official said last week that ISPs were now "forbidden" by the
     Telecommunications Ministry from providing Internet connections
     faster than 128 kilobytes per second (KBps), the official IRNA news
     agency reported. He did not give a reason.
     ...
     Critics said the restriction would hinder the work of students and
     researchers but said it appeared in line with what they see as a
     squeeze on the media by the government of President Mahmoud
     Ahmadinejad, who rails against the West.

   As I've noted [2]before, controlling a society's access to information
   is critical for groups whose claims to power rest on xenophobia,
   fantasies, and dogma rather than the will of the people.
   But young Iranians have tasted freedom and will be loathe to
   relinquish its sweet flavor without a fight, and the regime seems to
   have [3]little squeamishness about crushing dissent. Will the creeping
   advance of repression spark [4]revolution, or is this generation of
   Persians destined to experience the horrors of mass [5]democide? One
   or the other seems increasingly inevitable.

References

   1. http://www.issuesinperspective.com/2006/October/06oct14-15_2.cfm
   2. http://www.deanesmay.com/posts/1155702427.shtml
   3. http://instapundit.com/archives/033085.php
   4. http://www.regimechangeiran.com/
   5. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democide