What is the ruling on operating electronic newspapers that cover bad incidents such as theft and rape, and is this considered spreading vice and evils?

There is a need for electronically regulated newspapers, according to Islamic law, to spread goodness and combat obscenities. Their creators must adhere to certain controls, including:

1. Credibility in news reporting: Verifying what is correct, based on the verse: (O you who have believed, if there comes to you a disobedient one with [any] news, verify it). The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, warned against narrating everything one hears, as it leads to lying, and that whoever invents a lie that spreads far and wide will be tormented until the Day of Resurrection.

2. Not publishing every true piece of news: Many news items should not be published to the public, based on the verse: (And when there comes to them a matter of security or fear, they publicize it. But if they had referred it to the Messenger or to those in authority among them, then the ones who [can] draw correct conclusions from them would have known about it).

3. Avoiding the publication of scandalous news: Islamic law is based on concealing the faults of Muslims, as the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: (Whoever conceals [the fault of] a Muslim, Allah will conceal his [fault] on the Day of Resurrection). Publishing such news leads to people becoming accustomed to it and losing their aversion to it.

4. Avoiding the publication of trivial news: Such as news of dissolute men and women, and focusing on what benefits the Ummah from the news of the Islamic world.

5. Not publishing pictures of women.

6. Articles should be purposeful: Addressing the problems of the Ummah in aspects of monotheism, morals, conduct, and social issues.

7. Avoiding news that incites strife and fanaticism.