US To Ease Internet Restrictions on Iran

The US says it will ease internet restrictions on Iran.

The ease of internet restrictions is meant to counter Tehran’s clampdown on protests which were sparked by a woman’s death in police custody.

“We are going to help make sure the Iranian people are not kept isolated and in the dark,” US Secretary of State, Anthony Blinken said.

He said the partial relaxation of internet restrictions was a “concrete step to provide meaningful support to Iranians demanding that their basic rights be respected.”

He added, that it was clear the Iranian government was “afraid of its own people.”

The US treasury said the move would help counter the Iranian government’s attempt to “surveil and censor” its people.

Nevertheless, it is unlikely to have an immediate impact as it “does not remove every tool of communications repression,” they said

Billionaire Elon Musk said on Twitter that he would activate his satellite internet firm, Starlink which provides internet services in response to Mr. Blinken’s announcement.

Mistreatment
Report says Mahsa Amini, fell into a coma last week, hours after morality police arrested her for allegedly breaking headscarf rules.

Officers reportedly beat Ms. Amini’s head with a baton and banged her head against one of their vehicles.

Meanwhile, the police have said there is no evidence of any mistreatment and that she suffered “sudden heart failure.”

President Ebrahim Raisi who spoke at a pro-government event said he would not allow the country’s security to be threatened.

“We will not allow people’s security to be put at risk under any circumstances,” he said,

Stressing that Iran’s ‘enemies’ wanted to exploit the unrest.

Mr. Raisi said the government would listen to criticism over Ms. Amini’s death, but would not be influenced by ‘rioting’.

However, anti-government protests continued for a eight straight nights while pro-regime rallies also took place in Tehran and other cities.

Footage shared on social media on Friday showed large crowds of protesters gathering in several Tehran neighbourhoods after dark, while other incidents occurred elsewhere in the country.

BBC/CO