Tehran, Iran- Many residents in Iran are in one way or another experiencing interrupted internet connections.
According to internet watchdog Netblocks, mobile networks have been largely shut down, Meta has confirmed that residents are having trouble accessing some of its social media apps that include, including WhatsApp Facebook and Instagram.
United States (US) Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, on Friday announced steps his government would take to help the residents of Iran in accessing digital tools.
“(We) are going to help make sure the Iranian people are not kept isolated and in the dark. This is a concrete step to provide meaningful support to Iranians demanding that their basic rights be respected,” said Blinken.
For nine straight days, thousands of Iranians have taken to the streets in protest since the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, who died on September the 16th, three days after she was hospitalized after she had a heart attack and fell into a coma whilst in Gasht-e Ershad (Morality Police) custody.
The Gasht-e Ershad had initially arrested Mahsa for not wearing her hijab properly, as women are compelled to cover their hair in public in Iran, which as a Shiite theocratic State follows a strict interpretation of Sharia law.
According to the regulation, all women above the age of puberty must wear a head covering and lose clothing in public, although the exact age is not clearly defined. In school, girls typically have to wear the hijab from the age of seven, but that does not mean they need to necessarily wear it in other public places.
As a result, according to Iran Human Rights, at least 50 people have been killed by security forces in the protests, adding that the protests have now spread to 80 towns and cities.
“Iranian authorities said (Amini) died of a heart attack, and claimed her death was from natural causes. However, some reports suggested that Amini’s death was a result of alleged torture and ill-treatment.
We call on the Iranian authorities to hold an independent, impartial, and prompt investigation into Ms Amini’s death, make the findings of the investigation public and hold all perpetrators accountable,” read a statement from the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights.
Similar internet restrictions took place in Iran in November 2019, taking Iranians almost entirely offline as authorities tried to curb the spread of nationwide protests over fuel prices.
