The death toll from Iran’s nationwide anti‑government protests may climb sharply, with rights groups warning that the government’s ongoing internet shutdown, now in its fifth day, is obscuring the true scale of the crackdown. Human rights organisations estimate that more than 500 people have been killed and over 10,600 arrested since the unrest began.
With only a handful of videos emerging on social media, independent verification has become nearly impossible. Observers outside Iran fear that once connectivity is restored, the number of deaths and detentions could prove far higher.
Arina Moradi, a member of the Hengaw Organisation for Human Rights, an independent Kurdish monitoring group, said the blackout is a familiar tactic used by Iranian authorities.
“We have seen in the past that whenever they shut down internet, it’s because they want to use, as much as possible, their violence and their method of controlling people using violence,” she said.
Protests Trigger Nationwide Blackout
The latest wave of demonstrations began in late December, spreading rapidly across multiple provinces. As unrest intensified, authorities moved to restrict internet access, a strategy widely seen during previous crackdowns to limit communication, suppress evidence and hinder mobilisation.
Rights groups and activists warn that the coming days may reveal a far grimmer picture of the government’s response once the blackout is lifted.
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