Faisal Saeed Al Mutar

The Longest Internet Shutdown in Human History

The Longest Internet Shutdown in Human History Since January, repeated and sustained disruptions have reduced Iran’s connectivity to a fraction of normal levels, leaving millions technically online but unable to communicate beyond national borders

Friends in the UK, what do you make of the results of your municipal elections?

Nine years ago, Ideas Beyond Borders started with a simple belief:

Ideas matter. And people, when given access to them, can change their own societies.

We started in places where education was restricted, information was controlled, and opportunities were limited. Today, in a region shaped by war and polarization, this work matters more than ever.

This year:

• Thousands of Afghan girls continued learning through underground education networks
• We translated 1,700+ Wikipedia articles reaching tens of millions
• Our media and educational content reached hundreds of millions across the region
• We supported entrepreneurs across Iraq, Lebanon, Kurdistan, and Afghanistan
• More than 7,000 businesses registered through reforms we helped support in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq

But what matters most is not the numbers.

It is the student studying in secret.
The protestor trying to send one message before the internet disappears.
The entrepreneur building something in uncertainty.

Even in the hardest environments, people still choose to learn, think, and build.

And if that is true, then the future is still open.

Thank you to everyone who believes in this mission.

Support our work: https://ideasbeyondborders.org/donate/

لاحظت قفزة كبيرة في عدد زيارات ملفي الشخصي من المملكة العربية السعودية خلال الثلاثة أيام الماضية. 🇸🇦

لكل الزوار من المملكة. اهلا وسهلا

لدي فضول حقيقي لمعرفة ما الذي جذب انتباهكم؟

I've noticed a massive spike in profile views from Saudi Arabia over the last 72 hours. 🇸🇦

​To all the visitors from the Kingdom: welcome. I’m genuinely curious to know, what caught your attention?

So, Iran has attacked the UAE again!
​I have some recommendations not just for the UAE, but for the entire Arab Gulf nations, which I hope to see implemented one day.

​I know they may sound aggressive and not necessarily humane, but in my opinion, they are extremely necessary.

​1. There are roughly 500,000+ Iranians living in the Gulf. Anyone who is affiliated with the Iranian government, or is a supporter, needs to be deported immediately, and their bank accounts must be frozen.

​2. Those who are not affiliated with the regime can be turned into intelligence assets to ensure that Iran is constantly monitored.

​3. There are about two million Arabs living in Iran; most, if not all, of them hate not just the regime, but being a part of Iran itself. They do not necessarily want to become part of an Arab country, but most of them want a country of their own. They are extremely underutilized. Every time Iran attacks, it should be struck back tenfold so the regime learns its lesson.

​It took more than 40 years to build the successful nations you have in the Gulf; make sure to raise the cost of Iranian attacks.

​Make sure they do not sleep at night.

Just to show you the irony of the American-imposed post 2003 political system in Iraq:

Iraq “chooses” a new prime minister → Iraqis rush to search on Google because most people have never heard of him.

Why? Because he was picked by Iran.

Then the U.S. embassy congratulates him while the U.S. is at war with Iran.

The world is really absurd.

The UAE left OPEC, and I see many people suddenly becoming oil pricing economists.

I am not.

But here is my simple take: Iran is a member of OPEC.
So if Iran is a member of something, you should run away.

Therefore, I think the UAE made a good decision.

Thank you for your attention to this matter.

The United States asked Iraq to choose a prime minister who is favorable to the U.S., or at least neutral.

Today, the Iraqi government decided they want Ali al-Zaidi, who is a money launderer to Iran, on US sanctions list and a strong ally of Iranian interests, as the next prime minister.

A great success story of American diplomacy.

I just heard the news about the White House Correspondents' Dinner. I am so glad that the President, the First Lady, and all of my friends who were there are safe.

This shouldn't be political, and it should be condemned by everyone who is sane.

Time flies.

Ideas Beyond Borders is now nine years old.

Since 2017, this has been the joy of my life. Not because I get to lead an organization, but because I get to serve the people it was built for. Our readers who want to better understand the Middle East. Those who believe knowledge should be accessible, through Bayt Al Hikma 2.0.

Entrepreneurs and changemakers building something real through our Innovation Hub. And the policy work that has helped make it easier to start businesses, expand employment opportunities, support free speech, and reduce violence against women.

When I started this, I had energy and conviction. What I did not fully grasp was how many people from around the world would step in, trust us, and help carry this forward.

It has not been easy. The past three years have been especially difficult. War has become the norm in the Middle East, and hope can feel distant. There were days I personally felt powerless, even irrelevant.

But what matters is that something real was built.
An independent institution. Not government-owned. Not controlled. A place that is organic, spontaneous, and open. A place people can turn to for help, to grow, to think, to build. A place where the ideas of freedom have a home in the Middle East.

Our goals are ambitious, and often go against the trend. But we have seen these ideas work. Not just in theory, not just in the West, but in our region. Wherever there is more tolerance, freer markets, and open media, people live better lives. I have seen it with my own eyes, among people who look like me, speak like me, and are building despite everything.

So the work continues.

Thank you to everyone who has supported us over the years. I invite you to stay engaged, support our work, and be part of what comes next.

We will be hosting a private event in New York for those interested. I hope to see many of you there, and in different places around the world.

Thank you again.