Iranian Authorities Are Violently Cracking Down On Anti-Government Protests, Killing Nearly 500 People

More than 544 people have been killed in Iran as security forces crack down on ongoing anti-government protests after the country’s currency hit a record low.

Iran’s economy has been under pressure for years, largely due to US and EU sanctions that have restricted trade, oil exports and access to foreign currency.

In mid-December, the Iranian rial fell to its lowest recorded value, trading at around 1.42 million rials to the US dollar on the open market, according to Al Jazeera.

On Dec. 28, merchants in Iran’s capital Tehran began protesting soaring prices, shutting down shops in parts of the city.

The protests have since spread nationwide with people protesting in more than 300 locations across all of Iran’s 31 provinces, according to the US-based Human Rights Activist News Agency (HRANA).

Iranian authorities have violently cracked down on the protests, launching a campaign of mass arrests, including children under the age of 18.

As protests entered its 12th day, on Thursday, Jan. 8, videos showed protesters taking to the streets chanting “Death to the dictator” and “Death to the Islamic Republic”, according to AP.

A few hours later, the global cybersecurity monitor, Netblocks, confirmed that Iran was “in the midst of a nationwide internet blackout”.

Iranian authorities have not acknowledged the internet blackout that has been ongoing for at least five days.

Internet blackouts are often used to “limit coordination, information-sharing, and the dissemination of protest footage”, according to the Human Rights Activist News Agency.

More than 496 protesters and 48 security personnel have been killed, with more than 10,600 people, according to HARNA.

US president Donald Trump said late on Sunday, Jan. 11, that the US is looking at “ very strong options,” including the military, adding that they are working on possibly restoring the internet.

Iran’s foreign minister Abbas Araghchi said on Monday, Jan.12, “the situation has come under total control” and blamed the US and Israel for the violence in protests, adding it is to give an “excuse” for Trump to intervene militarily in Iran.

More On This

People In Iran Are Holding Huge Anti-Government Protests After The Country’s Currency Hit A Record Low

In mid-December, the Iranian rial reached its lowest at 1.42 million to US$1and official records showed inflation exceeded 42% in December alone.

AlmostCherry Mohamed

Iran’s Supreme Leader Has Called Anti-Government Protesters “Vandals” Trying To “Please” Trump

“Last night in Tehran and some other places, a bunch of vandals showed up and destroyed buildings belonging to their own country, just to please the US president,” Khamenei said.

AlmostSofia Hou

Iran Has Shut Down The Internet After 12 Days Of Anti-Government Protests That Are Only Getting Bigger

“The incident follows a series of escalating digital censorship measures targeting protests across the country and hinders the public’s right to communicate at a critical moment,”

AlmostSofia Hou