Amid protests over the death of a woman in police custody, Iran disrupted the internet and blocked access to social media platforms like Instagram and WhatsApp in parts of Tehran and Kurdistan, The Guardian reported. The decision was taken in a bid to curb protests as people take to social media to show opposition. The protests began on September 16 after the death in police custody of a 22-year-old Kurdish woman named Mahsa Amini.
According to Internet Observatory NetBlocks, mobile networks in Iran, including MCI and Rightel, have been “largely shut down” and regional disruptions have been seen during the protests. He further noted that the use of Instagram and WhatsApp has been restricted. Protesters torched police stations and vehicles in several cities across Iran as unrest sparked by the death of a woman continued for the sixth day. Protests have spread to 15 cities and police have used tear gas and arrested people to disperse crowds, The Guardian reported citing Iranian state media. The decision on internet restrictions comes as protesters are using the internet to stage protests and videos of women burning their hijabs have been widely circulated online. Some women also shared videos with the hashtag Mahsa_Amini that showed them cutting their hair in protest at the death of a 22-year-old Kurdish woman in police custody.
⚠️ #Iran is now under the toughest internet restrictions since the November 2019 massacre.
▶️ Widely closed mobile networks (MCI, Rightel, Irancell – partial)
▶️ Regional disruptions observed during protests
▶️ Instagram, restricted WhatsApphttps://t.co/8cCHIJA2Oi—NetBlocks (@netblocks) September 21, 2022
Woman detained for allegedly wearing an Islamic headscarf that was too loose
Witnesses in Iran, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told The Associated Press that they could no longer use the internet on mobile devices. Earlier Wednesday, Iran’s Telecommunications Minister Isa Zarepour announced that some restrictions may be imposed “due to security concerns”, AP reported citing state media. Protests have taken place in Iran following the death of Mahsa Amini, who was arrested on September 16 for allegedly wearing the Islamic headscarf too loosely. Activists claimed the woman had been fatally shot in the head. However, police denied the allegations and said the woman died of a heart attack. Mahsa Amini’s family claimed that the woman had never had heart problems before and had been blocked from seeing her body. Meanwhile, US President Joe Biden has shown his support for Iranian women who have demonstrated for their rights. In his address to the United Nations General Assembly, Biden said, “We stand with the brave citizens and brave women of Iran who are protesting at this time to secure their basic rights.”
Access point inputs
