Deadly protests in Iran have now reached their second week with the country largely restricted from the internet as the government tightens its control amid the most violent unrest in years.
Iran protests began after the death of a young female arrested an occurrence which has fueled public rage over law enforcement, freedom and financial struggles in Iran.
However, the violence that began in the capital Tehran seems to have spread to smaller cities as an indication that dissidents in these regions have gotten courageous enough to demonstrate their sentiments.
Human rights organizations state that there have been dozens of casualties from fighting between demonstrators and security forces, although it is difficult to say how many.
Iranian state media has reported deaths but attributes them to “rioters” and foreign meddling. Iranian officials are not allowing media to function fully.
The near complete shutdown of the internet has restricted the outflow of information from the country. Messaging services, social media platforms and many foreign news websites are unavailable to most users.
The shutdown is geared at ensuring the safety of the nation but its main aim is allegedly to prevent the formation of protest groups by the activists and to mask the scale of the crack down.
For ordinary Iranians loss of internet has piled on daily pressures. Many small businesses depend on online platforms to trade and reach customers.
Families struggled to reach out to relatives overseas, students and professionals were cut off from resources for work and study.
Economists warn that prolonged disruptions risk further damaging an economy already weakened by sanctions, high inflation and unemployment.
Security forces have kept a heavy presence in the streets especially at night. Witnesses described checkpoints, plainclothes officers and tear gas to disperse the crowds.
Universities and schools have been reporting sporadic closures, as authorities try to avoid large gatherings of young people who have been leading the protests.
The top leadership of Iran has sounded defiant. The senior officials have promised the restoration of order blaming external enemies for fanning unrest.
At the same time, there has been no indication of concessions or policy changes toward meeting protesters demands.
Past waves of demonstrations have been met with similar tactics combining force with communications restrictions and have eventually subsided without structural reform.
While the international response has been cautious, it has also been escalating.
Some Western countries have reacted to the reported numbers of deaths and the internet shutdown with concern calling on the Iranian government to respect the right to peaceful assemblies.
More activist groups are now calling for firmer action, such as the issuance of sanctions against specific individuals.
With the demonstrations in their second week, there is a clear uncertainty about what is yet to come.
However, without an active internet connection there is no way to accurately determine the scope and intensity of current and simmering protests.
One fact that is certain is that a greater issue is at play here than an isolated event and this is not going to disappear anytime soon even if there is a lessening in numbers.
