Internet Butcher

Rouhollah
Momen Nasab

Rouhollah Momen-Nasab is a well-known figure in the realm of internet policy-making and a prominent supporter of internet repression in Iran. Beyond his outspoken and aggressive positions in favor of internet filtering and the national internet project, he also holds a clear executive background in this field.

His most notable position was serving as the Deputy of the Basij Cyber Space Organization, an entity operating under the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). This organization focuses on controlling, monitoring, and shaping policies aimed at restricting internet access and promoting projects like the national intranet.

In this role, Momen-Nasab actively contributed to advancing the discourse of internet censorship, supporting the Protection Plan, and developing domestic alternatives to global platforms. He has also participated as an advisor and analyst in collaboration with bodies such as the Supreme Council of Cyberspace and relevant parliamentary commissions, effectively taking part in the policy-making process that limits internet freedom.

From a media and ideological perspective, Momen-Nasab is a staunch advocate of tiered internet access, open internet censorship, and the blocking of international platforms. In his speeches, tweets, and interviews, he has repeatedly described the global internet as a threat to Iran’s security, culture, and national sovereignty, promoting the necessity of strict controls.

One of his most controversial statements, which was widely ridiculed and criticized, was his analogy between internet usage and pregnancy. He claimed that: "Someone who uses 2GB of internet is no different from someone who uses 20GB, just like a woman is either pregnant or not — you can’t be ‘a little’ pregnant. If you use the internet, you have definitely been harmed."

This statement became symbolic of his unscientific, regressive, and ideological view of the digital world and Iranian users.

Overall, both in executive roles and in public discourse, Momen-Nasab is considered one of the key figures driving the repression of internet freedom in Iran.