The Iranian authorities are considerably limiting access to the Internet, especially to communication platforms such as Instagram and WhatsApp, following protests arising from the death of a citizen against local authorities.
The protests began at the end of last week, when 22-year-old Mahsa Amini died after being attacked by authorities on 16 September. This young woman was reportedly arrested for failing to follow the strict dress code for women.
The incident caused an uproar among the population, which has been carrying out waves of protest against the case, especially by women who consider the outdated and rigid clothing laws. According to the NetBlocks portal, the Iranian government has been heavily blocking the Internet in the country after the protests began.
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Platforms such as WhatsApp, Instagram and Facebook are gradually being blocked, in what many consider to be one of the biggest blockades since 2019, when authorities blocked virtually all local internet following protests against fuel prices.
In part, the blockades are being applied as a way of limiting the distribution of content to the world about what is happening in the country, also limiting its visibility – something that is quite common in this type of situation.
