Iran General NewsRestoring Iran’s Internet Access Will Save Lives

Restoring Iran’s Internet Access Will Save Lives

-

Restoring Iran’s Internet Access Will Save Lives

By Pooya Stone

Since midnight November 15, tens of thousands of Iranians poured in the streets across the country following the government acknowledged gas prices hikes. A sharp increase in fuel prices came amidst terrible economic conditions due to systematic corruption and mismanagement.

Iran’s irresponsible policies inside the country and abroad, imposed a budget deficit as far as the president Hassan Rouhani admitted that “Without money, we cannot run the affairs of the state.” Thus, the Iranian government pursue to compensate for the budget deficit, but at the expense of the people.

Amnesty International reports that at least 106 people have been killed in 21 cities across Iran during recent nationwide protests. However, based on protesters’ reports posted on social media before the internet shutdown, the number of casualties is as high as 200.

Since the 2009 uprisings, Iranian authorities grasped the potential of the internet and in particular social media to attract global attention to their crimes. The government tried to control the country’s online spaces as a necessity for keeping the Ayatollahs in power.

In December 2016, Iranian Prosecutor Ahmad Ali Montazeri, who heads Iran’s Internet Censorship Committee, banned and closed 14,000 websites and social media accounts in Iran. The government endeavors to replace the internet by developing the National Information Network (NIN) and touting it as an advantageous channel for domestic trade. However, in practice, it has become a means for Iranian authorities to impose their strict regulations.

Crucially, NIN has rolled out only to block or filter content that incites the people to pursue their rightful grievances. The authorities use this program to monitor citizens’ data and disconnect them from the global internet in emergencies. The NIN project also enabled Tehran to impose an almost complete internet blackout without disrupting the communications of officials, security forces, and state-run media outlets.

https://twitter.com/HanifJazayeri/status/1196915127284633601

https://twitter.com/RichardGrenell/status/1195957873613910018

During recent days, a huge number of videos posted in cyberspace drew some leaders’ attention to what is happening in Iran’s streets. Footages of blind violence employed by the Iranian security forces dominated the news about Iran. In this regard, Iranian officials cut off the people’s internet to stop the flow of popular videos and reports reaching the world. On the other hand, shutting down the internet aids the authorities to quell protests mercilessly.

Subsequently, it is necessary that the civilized world stands with the Iranian people and supports their rights when they are being massacred by their own government. Social media activists are calling upon the international community with “#Internet4Iran” to provide a free current of online space to help curb the killing and suppression inside Iran.

https://twitter.com/netblocks/status/1196888734542843904

https://twitter.com/Iran_Focus/status/1196912409195286528

https://twitter.com/A_Jafarzadeh/status/1196879966841004033

https://twitter.com/NassrinSaifi/status/1196900122556153856

https://twitter.com/4freedominiran2/status/1196905401356296193

https://twitter.com/OrgIAC/status/1196986142299701250

https://twitter.com/gobadi/status/1196888808320573441

https://twitter.com/HeshmatAlavi/status/1196899591142215680

 

 

Latest news

 Statistics show that New Year accidents’ deaths in Iran reached 585

Ahmad Shirani, the head of the Information and Traffic Control Center of the Iranian regime’s police, announced that the...

Land Subsidence in Critical Conditions in Isfahan

Mehdi Toghyani, a member of the Iranian regime’s Majlis (parliament), pointed to the occurrence of land subsidence in various...

Iran’s Actual Inflation Rate Higher Than Official Stats

The state-run Donya-e-eqtesad newspaper, in a report analyzing the "general sentiment" regarding inflation in 2023, has stated that households...

Iranian Workers’ Monthly $136 Wages Can’t Cover $500 Expenses

The lives of a significant portion of the Iranian population are marked by uncertainty, largely because the Iranian economy...

Iranian Nurses Earn Twice Their Wages in Ride-Hailing Services

Reza Aryanpour, a member of the regime’s Majlis (parliament) Health and Treatment Commission, highlighted the growing trend of nurses...

Iran: Unprecedented Record of 152 Million Liters of Gasoline Consumption Per Day

On March 19, Iran set a new historical record in gasoline consumption with 152 million liters consumed in one...

Must read

Iran displays advanced missile at military parade

AP: Iran has displayed an advanced missile capable of...

Iran President arrives in Cuba

Iran Focus: London, Sep. 14 – Radical Iranian President...

You might also likeRELATED
Recommended to you