Facebook has expressed its disappointment at the move by the Iranian Government to block access to the social-networking site ahead of the country’s elections next month.
According to reports, the move is aimed at removing the site as a tool for growing support for reformist candidate Mir Hossein Mousavi (pictured).
Supporters of Mousavi were understood to be using Facebook to disseminate the candidate’s position on certain issues.
Visitors to the supporters’ site on Facebook have since been met with a message in Farsi saying: “Access to this site is not possible.”
Mir Hossein Mousavi’s Facebook page is understood to have had 5,000 supporters on the social-networking site.
Facebook has said it is disappointed Iran has taken such a step at a time when across the world more and more political candidates are using their Facebook profiles to provide potential voters with information about themselves and their stance on various issues.
A former prime minister of Iran, Mir Hossein Mousavi is seen as a major challenger to incumbent incumbent President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
By John Kennedy
Pictured: Iranian reformist candidate Mir Hossein Mousavi
Picture courtesy of Mardetanha
