Internet Butcher

Ahmad
Vahidi

Ahmad Vahidi, the former Minister of Interior, has been a key figure in the crackdown on protests and the restriction of internet access, particularly during the “Woman, Life, Freedom” uprising.

As Interior Minister, Vahidi was a core member of the Committee for Determining Offensive Content—a body responsible for deciding which websites, platforms, and apps should be blocked. This committee has played a major role in widespread internet censorship, including the blocking of Instagram and WhatsApp.

During nationwide protests such as those in November 2019 and the fall of 2022, the Interior Ministry, in coordination with security entities like the Supreme National Security Council, actively implemented internet shutdowns or large-scale disruptions to prevent the spread of news and hinder protester coordination. While not directly in charge of the Ministry of ICT, the Interior Ministry—overseeing internal security—often relays restriction orders to relevant agencies.

Vahidi has repeatedly described platforms like Instagram, Telegram, and Twitter as “tools of hybrid warfare used by the enemy,” labeling their use a threat to national security. This kind of rhetoric has helped justify and legitimize harsher censorship policies.

He has also supported initiatives like the “Protection Plan” and the development of the so-called “National Internet.” While these programs are formally carried out by the Ministry of ICT, Vahidi, as one of the security-focused ministers in Raisi’s administration, has acted as a political backer and enabler of these efforts.