Users report internet "disruption" in Iran ahead of anniversary of November 2019 protests
As the anniversary of the November 2019 protests approaches, some social media users in Iran are reporting disruptions in the country's internet services.
Hossein Ronaghi, a blogger and freedom of expression activist in Iran, wrote in a tweet on Friday, November 11, "There is a severe disruption to VPNs and filter breakers, leading to internet outages."
He also wrote: "Internet speed has also slowed down significantly."
Some users have attributed the disruption to Iran's internet to the continued protests by Isfahan farmers, and some have noted the holding of the Hamid Nouri trial and the November 2019 people's trial.
On November 15, 2019, as nationwide protests against the Islamic Republic began following the announcement of a gasoline price hike, the Islamic Republic authorities cut off the country's internet to prevent news of the protests and their suppression from being transmitted to the world. At the same time, a small number of people had special access to the internet and described the situation inside Iran as calm in their writings.
During the November protests, hundreds of protesters were killed and arrested by security forces. Amnesty International has so far documented the identities of 323 of those killed.
Mohammad Musaed, a journalist who was able to report on the internet outage after a few days, was arrested and forced to leave the country months later.
At that time, Mosaad wrote in a tweet with a brief description of the situation in Iran and the nationwide internet shutdown and criticism of people's use of the internet: "In the absence of the internet, metropolises have become thousands of small, densely packed villages. When communication tools are cut off, the horizon of vision is reduced to a few meters, and it no longer matters how many kilometers or thousands of kilometers you are away. Say hello to the dancing hyenas equipped with the internet, young minister."
He also tweeted in English, which was met with great response. “Tak Tak, hello free world… I used 42 proxies to write this. Millions of Iranians don’t have internet. Can you hear us?” Mosaad wrote.
Ayatollah Khamenei, the leader of the Islamic Republic, who has been referred to as one of the "predators of media freedom," has repeatedly called for restrictions on the internet, especially social networks.
Currently, the plan to restrict the Internet in Iran, titled "Protecting the Rights of Users in Cyberspace and Regulating Social Media," is under consideration in the Islamic Consultative Assembly. The approval of the plan, known as "Protection," is being cited as the implementation of one of Ayatollah Khamenei's demands.
Source: Voice of America
