With internet shutdown, Iran seeks to limit protest outcry

 

After Iran last month imposed an internet shutdown lasting several days in a southeastern region during a rare upsurge of unrest; activists say the government is now using the tactic repeatedly when protests erupt.

Rights groups say at least 10 people were killed when security forces opened fire on fuel porters around Saravan in the province of Sistan-Baluchistan on 22 February; prompting protests where live ammunition was used on unarmed demonstrators.

But little information filtered out due to a near total shutdown of the internet in the impoverished region bordering Pakistan; which has a large ethnic Baluch population and has been a flashpoint for cross-border attacks by separatists and Sunni extremists.

The internet shutdown was a “measure authorities appear to be using as a tool to conceal gross human rights violations; and possible international crimes such as extrajudicial killings,” freedom of expression groups Access Now; Article 19 and Miaan Group said in a joint statement with Amnesty International.

Campaigners say such shutdowns, which recall those seen in recent months during street protests in Belarus and Myanmar; have a dual purpose.

They seek to prevent people from using social media messaging services to mobilise protests but also hinder the documentation of rights violations; that could be used to rally support at home and abroad.

Iran in November 2019 imposed nationwide internet limits during rare protests against fuel hikes; that the authorities suppressed in a deadly crackdown.

Rights groups fear the same tactic risks being used again during potentially tense presidential elections this summer.