Iran plunged into internet blackout as protests over economy spread nationwide

"Iran was plunged into a complete internet blackout on Thursday night as demonstrations over economic conditions spread nationwide, increasing pressure on the country's leadership. While it was unclear what caused the internet cut, first reported by internet freedom monitor NetBlocks, Iranian authorities have shut down the internet in response to protests in the past. NetBlocks had reported outages in the western city of Kermanshah earlier in the day, as authorities intensified their crackdown against protesters."

"Shopkeepers heeded calls on Thursday from seven Kurdish political groups for a general strike on Thursday, closing their doors in Kurdish regions and dozens of other cities around Iran. Demonstrations reached all 31 provinces on Thursday as the protest movement, now in its 12th day, showed no signs of abating. In the southern Fars province demonstrators pulled down the statue of the former senior Islamic Revolutionary Guards Quds Force (IRGC) commander Qassem Suleimani considered a hero of mythical proportions by government supporters."

Iran experienced a nationwide internet blackout as economic protests spread to all 31 provinces, increasing pressure on the country's leadership. NetBlocks reported the outage and earlier localized outages in Kermanshah, and authorities have previously shut down internet access during protests. The Norway-based NGO Iran Human Rights reported at least 45 protesters killed, including eight children, since the demonstrations began in late December, with hundreds more wounded and more than 2,000 arrested. Shopkeepers joined a Kurdish-led general strike across Kurdish regions and many cities. Protesters pulled down a statue of former IRGC Quds Force commander Qassem Suleimani in Fars province as the crackdown intensified.

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