Over 210 Hours of Internet Shutdown in Iran; Continued Global Reactions to the Bloody Suppression of Protesters

Reactions to the suppression of nationwide protests in Iran and the killing of citizens continue, with human rights organizations calling for an immediate and decisive response from the international community to hold the authorities of the Islamic Republic accountable. More than a week after the internet was cut off in Iran and restrictions and disruptions were imposed on phone communications, several international organizations have deemed these actions as violations of the right to freedom of expression and the right to access information freely, accusing the Islamic Republic of gross human rights violations. On Friday, January 26, the Human Rights Watch reported that government forces of the Islamic Republic began a widespread massacre of protesters following the expansion of nationwide protests from January 18. According to this organization, thousands of protesters and even passersby have been killed, but severe communication restrictions and internet shutdowns have concealed the true dimensions of this tragedy. The report states that the suppression of protests in various parts of Iran has been coordinated and organized, with many victims shot directly in the head and chest. Human Rights Watch emphasized that the widespread and unlawful use of firearms against unarmed protesters indicates that the government has deliberately and systematically employed deadly violence. Human Rights Watch has published reports of hundreds of bodies piling up around the Kahrizak forensic center, indicating that at least 400 corpses exist in that location alone, and this figure is likely an underestimate. This human rights organization stated that images of families searching for their loved ones among hundreds of black bags should shake the conscience of the world so that the international community takes immediate action to hold the perpetrators of these crimes accountable. Human Rights Watch claims that this report is based on conversations with eyewitnesses, families of victims, journalists, human rights activists, and medical staff, as well as the examination of dozens of images and videos. The American PEN Association: Iran is experiencing one of the most severe periods of repression in its contemporary history. The American PEN Association, expressing solidarity with the protesting people in Iran, stated that Iran is experiencing one of the most severe periods of repression in its contemporary history. In a statement published on Friday, January 26, it called for the immediate and unconditional release of journalists, writers, human rights defenders, artists, and all individuals who have been detained for exercising their right to freedom of expression and participating in peaceful gatherings. The statement noted that in light of the internet and communication shutdowns in Iran, political prisoners, including Narges Mohammadi, Aliyeh Matlabi, Hasti Amiri, Sepideh Qolian, Pouran Nazemi, and dozens of others, are at serious risk, as previous patterns in the history of the Islamic Republic show that periods of widespread unrest are usually accompanied by a sharp increase in the violation of prisoners' rights, and individuals held in solitary confinement are at increased risk. The American PEN Association also stated that the publication of shocking images of the lifeless bodies of protesters, reports from doctors about numerous injuries in hospitals, and censorship and restrictions on journalists and independent media have caused many families to experience anxiety and despair in searching for their missing loved ones. This organization called on the international community to take immediate action to address human rights violations in Iran. A letter from seven Kurdish political parties: The Islamic Republic has committed "crimes against humanity." Seven Kurdish political parties and organizations, in an open letter to the UN Human Rights Council, accused the Islamic Republic of committing "crimes against humanity." In this letter published on Saturday, January 27, it states: "The Islamic Republic has brutally suppressed the people for more than three weeks and has cut off widespread internet access and blocked communication channels to hide the dimensions of the massacre and erase the traces of its crimes." The signatories of this letter emphasized that thousands have become blind, injured, or detained during the protests, and many injured individuals refrain from seeking medical treatment due to fear of legal repercussions. The signatories called on the international community to stop the actions of the Islamic Republic and to support the people of Iran in their struggle, fulfilling part of their historical responsibility. The nationwide protests that began on January 7 have been accompanied by the bloody suppression of dozens of cities. CBS News estimates the number of victims to be between 12,000 and 20,000, while the Iran Human Rights Organization has confirmed the deaths of at least 3,400 people. As the internet blackout has surpassed 210 hours and many provinces remain disconnected from the outside world, international organizations have warned that this deliberate policy is an attempt to conceal the dimensions of the massacre of protesters and prevent citizens from accessing information freely. Donald Trump, the President of the United States, has repeatedly expressed his explicit support for Iranian protesters in recent weeks, warning the Islamic Republic and its repressive apparatus about the killing of protesters, stating that if protesters are executed, the United States will take "very decisive actions." Following these warnings from President Trump to the Islamic Republic, the President of the United States on Friday, January 26, expressed gratitude for the cancellation of planned executions in Iran in a message on his Truth Social account. However, on Saturday, January 27, he told Politico that the "Ayatollah" is guilty for "completely destroying his country" and that "it is time to look for new leadership in Iran." He stated regarding Ali Khamenei, the leader of the Islamic Republic, that "his guilt as the leader of a country is the complete destruction of the country and the use of violence at levels never seen before." He added, "For the country to continue its work, even if this performance is at a very low level, leadership must focus on properly managing its country - just like I do with the United States - and not kill thousands to maintain its power." President Trump: It is time to look for new leadership in Iran. Amnesty International's warning about the establishment of a security-military atmosphere in Iranian cities to prevent gatherings. A report from Voice of America on the role of proxy groups of the Islamic Republic in the bloody suppression of protests in Iran. Shohreh Pakrovan: Prove that Erfan Soltani is safe.