Rights groups urge Nepal to reverse Telegram ban
The Himalayan nation blocked access to the app on Jul 18, citing a rise in online fraud and money laundering.
"The government's ban is a serious human rights violation and a discriminatory decision," said Taranath Dahal of Freedom Forum, a media freedom watchdog.
"This shows the government can ban any platform without transparency, which is extremely concerning."
Freedom Forum was among more than two dozen organisations to release a statement demanding an "immediate" reversal of the ban.
"The sudden, unlawful disruption has severely impacted journalists, human rights defenders, students, small businesses, and others who depend on the platform for essential day-to-day communication," said a statement released by #KeepItOn, an international coalition of civil society organisations.
Min Prasad Aryal, spokesperson for the Nepal Telecommunication Authority, confirmed the government's directive.
"We asked all internet service providers to block the app after receiving an order from the Prime Minister's Office," Aryal told AFP.
Nepal has restricted access to popular online platforms in the past.
In August last year, the government lifted a nine-month ban on TikTok after the platform's South Asia division agreed to comply with Nepali regulations.
Telegram, launched in 2013, is a cloud-based messaging app known for its privacy features and support for large group chats and broadcast channels.
The app has an estimated billion users worldwide, but faces restrictions in some countries.
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Straits Times
6 days ago
- Straits Times
Rights groups urge Nepal to reverse Telegram ban
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Nepal blocked access to the app on July 18, citing a rise in online fraud and money laundering. KATHMANDU - Rights groups on July 31 urged Nepal to reverse a ban on the Telegram messaging app, calling the move a serious threat to freedom of expression and digital privacy. The Himalayan nation blocked access to the app on July 18, citing a rise in online fraud and money laundering. 'The government's ban is a serious human rights violation and a discriminatory decision,' said Mr Taranath Dahal of Freedom Forum, a media freedom watchdog. 'This shows the government can ban any platform without transparency, which is extremely concerning.' Freedom Forum was among more than two dozen organisations to release a statement demanding an 'immediate' reversal of the ban. 'The sudden, unlawful disruption has severely impacted journalists, human rights defenders, students, small businesses, and others who depend on the platform for essential day-to-day communication,' said a statement released by #KeepItOn, an international coalition of civil society organisations. Mr Min Prasad Aryal, spokesperson for the Nepal Telecommunication Authority, confirmed the government's directive. 'We asked all internet service providers to block the app after receiving an order from the Prime Minister's Office,' Mr Aryal told AFP. In a statement sent to AFP, Telegram said it had 'always responded to Nepal's legal requests' and that it 'actively moderates harmful content on its platform and removes cases of fraud and money laundering as soon as they are discovered, although we have not received any reports of this from Nepalese authorities'. Nepal has restricted access to popular online platforms in the past. In August last year, the government lifted a nine-month ban on TikTok after the platform's South Asia division agreed to comply with Nepali regulations. Telegram, launched in 2013, is a cloud-based messaging app known for its privacy features and support for large group chats and broadcast channels. The app has an estimated billion users worldwide, but faces restrictions in some countries. Telegram's Russian-born founder and chief executive Pavel Durov was briefly detained in France last year and questioned again this week about the platform's alleged complicity in criminal activity. AFP
CNA
6 days ago
- CNA
Rights groups urge Nepal to reverse Telegram ban
KATHMANDU: Rights groups on Thursday (Jul 31) urged Nepal to reverse a ban on the Telegram messaging app, calling the move a serious threat to freedom of expression and digital privacy. The Himalayan nation blocked access to the app on Jul 18, citing a rise in online fraud and money laundering. "The government's ban is a serious human rights violation and a discriminatory decision," said Taranath Dahal of Freedom Forum, a media freedom watchdog. "This shows the government can ban any platform without transparency, which is extremely concerning." Freedom Forum was among more than two dozen organisations to release a statement demanding an "immediate" reversal of the ban. "The sudden, unlawful disruption has severely impacted journalists, human rights defenders, students, small businesses, and others who depend on the platform for essential day-to-day communication," said a statement released by #KeepItOn, an international coalition of civil society organisations. Min Prasad Aryal, spokesperson for the Nepal Telecommunication Authority, confirmed the government's directive. "We asked all internet service providers to block the app after receiving an order from the Prime Minister's Office," Aryal told AFP. Nepal has restricted access to popular online platforms in the past. In August last year, the government lifted a nine-month ban on TikTok after the platform's South Asia division agreed to comply with Nepali regulations. Telegram, launched in 2013, is a cloud-based messaging app known for its privacy features and support for large group chats and broadcast channels. The app has an estimated billion users worldwide, but faces restrictions in some countries.
Straits Times
30-07-2025
- Straits Times
Indian statement on Kashmir attackers ‘replete with fabrications', says Pakistan
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox The Himalayan region of Kashmir is at the heart of the hostility between India and Pakistan. ISLAMABAD - The Indian home minister's account of forces killing who he said were three Pakistanis involved in the April attack on Hindu tourists in the Jammu and Kashmir federal territory was 'replete with fabrications', Pakistan's foreign ministry said on July 30. Indian Home Minister Amit Shah told parliament on July 29 that the three militants killed in a gun battle in a Kashmir forest this week were the perpetrators of the April 22 attack and that New Delhi had found evidence to back it. Pakistan has denied involvement in the attack in which 26 men were shot dead - the worst assault on civilians in India since the 2008 Mumbai attacks - and sought an independent investigation. 'The account given by the Indian home minister is replete with fabrications, leading to serious questions about its credibility,' Pakistan's foreign ministry said in a statement. The attackers, who India said were Pakistani nationals backed by Islamabad, had opened fire in a valley popular with tourists in Kashmir's scenic, mountainous region of Pahalgam, before fleeing into the surrounding pine forests. It led New Delhi to target what it called 'terrorist infrastructure' in Pakistan and Pakistani Kashmir, leading to four days of intense fighting in May between the nuclear-armed neighbours before they agreed to a ceasefire. The Himalayan region of Kashmir is at the heart of the hostility between India and Pakistan, who have fought two of their three wars over the region, which they both claim in full but rule in part. New Delhi accuses Islamabad of helping Islamist separatists battling security forces in its part of Kashmir, but Pakistan says it only provides diplomatic and moral support to Kashmiris seeking self determination. REUTERS
