Iran has gone into a nationwide communication blackout, since yesterday night the internet as well as other communication mediums have been disrupted. Since December 28, a wave of unrest ragging through Iran, protestors have been demanding political change, owing to the crash of the economy in the country. As per the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency, more than 2,270 have been arrested and 42 people have been killed amidst the ongoing clashes between security forces and protestors.
What is happening in Iran?
There have been reports of complete communication blackouts in Iran. As per an online watchdog Net Blocks, “live metrics show Iran is now in the midst of a nationwide internet blackout. Attempts were made to establish connection, but international telephone lines also failed”.
The complete communication backout has coincided with the day of mass demonstration by Reza Pahlavi, exiled opposition leader. He had warned, “millions of Iranians demanded their freedom tonight” and thanked “the leader of the free world, President Trump, for reiterating his promise to hold the regime to account.”
How and why did the protest start in Iran?
It all started from December 28, after there was a collapse in rial, lowest ever recorded, disrupting the market. It started with a shutdown of Tehran bazaar and then after spread across many cities like Tehran, Isfahan, Abadan, Khorramabad, Kermanshah, and Lorestan. The protest is majorly because of the deteriorating economy, increasing inflation and decrease in the ability of people to purchase. Slogans such as “Death to the dictator!” and “Pahlavi will return!” was heard across the country.
A news agency Iran International English has reported that an Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) was set ablaze in Isfahan and in Tehran, security forces vehicles were torched and forces were attacked.
As per the Human Rights Activists News Agency and Iran Human Rights, more than 42 deaths and over 2,270 arrests ever since the protest started, however, the numbers cited by Iranian state media and official sources have reported lower figures. One news agency named Fars news agency has reported that at least 30 were killed in shootings in Lordegan in Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province. Another news agency Mizan reported that a police colonel was brutally stabbed outside Tehran. International Human Rights Watch Amnesty International has called this act an unlawful use of force.
