Iran restricts internet access over hijab protests

The President Ebrahim Raisi-led Iranian government has restricted internet access in parts of the country amid growing protests.

Since the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, who succumbed to injuries inflicted on her by the Iranian morality police for allegedly wearing her headscarf loosely, protests have swept through parts of the country.

Reacting, riot police went after protesters, inflicted injuries, made arrests and had a hand in the death of over 41 protesters.

An internet observatory study by Netblocks revealed that there had been restrictions on internet service and social media platforms since Monday, September 19. Amini died on September 16.

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According to Netblocks, there was “a near-total disruption to internet service in parts of Kurdistan province in west Iran from the evening of Monday 19 September 2022”.

“The regional telecommunications blackout in and around Sanandaj follows a partial disruption to internet service in Tehran and other parts of the country on Friday when protests first broke out. Instagram and WhatsApp, two of the last remaining international platforms in Iran, have subsequently been restricted nationally as of Wednesday 21 September, followed by a nation-scale shutdown of mobile networks,” Netblocks said.

FIJ