Amnesty International: Internet Shutdown in Iran; Covering Up Deadly Suppression of Protesters

Amnesty International has warned that the nationwide internet shutdown in Iran, coinciding with the intensification of public protests, is a deliberate tool to conceal widespread human rights violations and the deadly suppression of protesters. The organization states that the internet outage not only hinders information dissemination but also constitutes a serious violation of human rights. Rebecca White, a security researcher at Amnesty International, announced that the officials of the Islamic Republic have 'once again deliberately' cut off Iran's connection to the outside world to 'hide the true extent of the crimes committed to suppress the largest nationwide protests since the uprising for women, life, freedom.' According to her, this action plunges people into 'digital darkness' and prevents the documentation of incidents such as the unlawful killing of protesters by security forces. Amnesty International emphasizes that access to the internet is a fundamental human right and is vital during protests. The organization warns that cutting off the internet allows government forces to continue their repression without public and media oversight, remaining unaccountable. Rebecca White stated, 'The right to protest includes digital spaces,' and a complete internet shutdown, even in emergencies, is an disproportionate and illegal action under international law. This human rights entity recalls the Islamic Republic's history of using internet shutdowns, referencing the bloody suppression of protests in November 2019 and the nationwide protests in 2022; periods during which hundreds of protesters and ordinary citizens were killed while the internet was widely or completely cut off. According to Amnesty International, since the beginning of the new wave of protests on December 28, 2025, government forces have attacked protesters using unlawful force, firearms, and widespread arbitrary arrests. Amnesty International reports that this repression has so far resulted in the deaths of at least 28 people, including children, in 13 cities across eight provinces. The organization also stated that there are reports under investigation indicating that after the internet shutdown, the use of lethal force by security forces has intensified, and there is a likelihood of an increase in the number of victims. Recent protests began in Tehran but quickly spread throughout Iran, with protesters in all these cities chanting slogans against the entire structure of the Islamic Republic. Amnesty International, noting the rising death toll, has urged the international community to take immediate diplomatic action and warned of the risk of further bloodshed in the shadow of the internet shutdown. The organization has emphasized that the officials of the Islamic Republic must 'immediately' restore full internet access and warned that continued communication blackout will only exacerbate human rights violations and increase the impunity of those responsible for the repression.