ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq - The Iraqi communications ministry on Friday defended its decision to block access to a popular movie database website, claiming that the move is in line with the state authorities’ guidelines on banning pornographic websites.

The ministry last week blocked access to the popular Internet Movie Database (IMDB) website across federal Iraq, under the pretext of containing “unethical content.” The move sparked an uproar among users and movie lovers across the country, who criticized the baffling decision.

“The Ministry of Communications would like to point out that it does not block any website based on personal moods or opinions, but rather in implementation of what is officially received from the relevant state institutions and in implementation of what was stated in the decision of the Federal Supreme Court and the decision of the esteemed parliament, which includes blocking pornographic websites,” read a statement from the ministry on Friday.

The statement addressed the backlash that the ministry has received over the decision, stating that the criticisms, which it claimed come from individuals trying to take advantage of the situation, will not deter them from performing their “moral duty.”

IMDB is an online database for information and statistics about movies, TV shows, video games, and other parts of the entertainment industry, as well as profiles and information on actors, filmmakers, and all other kinds of celebrities.

The platform has a large following around the world, including Iraq, due to its comprehensive resources, as well its popular rating system, often consulted by viewers before watching a movie or a TV show.

“Framing these sites within the framework of evaluating [TV] series or otherwise will not change the fact that they are sites that promote obscene pornographic content,” the statement noted, calling on citizens not to be drawn into “campaigns that target their morals and values.”

IMDB itself does not contain or promote any graphic content, but boasts a massive database on virtually everything in the entertainment industry, which inevitably leads to the inclusion of some entries that might not be family friendly. However, it still does not act as a platform for viewing those entries.

Iraq has blocked public access to all pornographic websites since 2022. Many websites are often inaccurately flagged by authorities and blocked under the pretext of containing inappropriate content.

Popular audio streaming service Soundcloud was also blocked in recent days. The authorities have yet to clarify the reason for the move.

The decision does not apply to the Kurdistan Region.