“The Ministry of Communications draws the attention of dear citizens that it will lift the ban on Telegram application in Iraq, starting tomorrow, Sunday,” read the ministry statement, explaining that the decision was made upon a directive from Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani.
The ministry blocked the popular messaging service last week “based on directives of higher authorities” and after Iraqi authorities had repeatedly requested Telegram to shut down channels that were leaking state documents and personal data of Iraqi users.
In its statement on Saturday, the ministry said Telegram’s owners had responded to the demands of Iraqi security authorities to find those responsible for leaking personal data and expressed their “complete readiness to communicate with the competent authorities.”
Digital Media Center (DMC), an Iraqi non-governmental organization monitoring and analyzing digital media, in late July criticized Telegram’s technical support saying it was ignoring reports filed by Iraqi users and this had turned the platform into a “hotspot for digital crime” in the country.
The DMC said that it had documented dozens of channels on the platform specializing in electronic extortion and leaking the personal data of thousands of Iraqi users. It said Telegram “continuously ignores requests to delete the violating channels.”
Telegram is very popular in Iraq and is the primary platform for many of the country’s armed factions and militias.
The decision to block the app was heavily criticized. Sabreen News, a channel affiliated with Iranian-backed factions of the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), labeled the ban as “silencing” and “fighting press freedom.”
The ministry said on Saturday that it does not oppose freedom of expression, but emphasized that social networking companies must respect the country’s laws, security, and user data.
