Iranian authorities say they will restrict internet access in the country until calm is restored to the streets
Protests over the death of a young woman in the custody of the morality police continue to rock the Islamic Republic.
Thousands of Iranians have taken to the streets in protest since the death last week of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, who was apprehended in Tehran and taken to a “re-education center,” apparently for not wearing her hijab properly.
Amini’s death has sparked outrage among Iranian women, who have long been subject to repressive rules mandating their dress and behavior.
In recent years, the government has stepped up its enforcement of these rules, with morality police attacking women for offenses such as wearing loose headscarves or talking to men in public.
The death of Amini, who was reportedly beaten in custody, has galvanized young Iranians who are fed up with the repression they have faced for their entire lives.
In addition to taking to the streets, they are using social media to spread the word about the protests and to call for an end to the government’s oppressive policies.
It remains to be seen whether the current wave of protests will lead to lasting change in Iran. But one thing is clear: the country’s young people are no longer willing to tolerate the status quo.
