Iranian authorities have closed hundreds of Tehran's cybercafés in the past several days as part of a general crackdown on growing use of the Internet, a pro-reform newspaperreported today.
The Hambastigipaper said around 400 Internet cafés, all ofwhich have only opened in the past three or four years, had beenordered to shut their doors by police.
Owners are being told they now need permits for their cafés aswell as for use of the Internet itself, and will have to register with a conservative-run trade union for computer andbusiness-machine operators.
"The police came yesterday and wanted to shut us down," a20-year-old Tehran cybercafés employee, who gave her name only as Leila.
"They said from now on we must be registeredwith the authorities."
Internet use has exploded since the 1997 election of PresidentMohammad Khatami, who has moved to liberalise Iranian society in theface of stiff conservative opposition.
But chat rooms, normal e-mail and especially online phone servicesare cutting into state phone company revenues.
Hambastigisaid the cybercafé closures risk putting around 5,000people out of work and that the move contradicts Iran's moves towardprivatisation and greater openness to the outside world.
AFP