EU Condemns Iran’s Crackdown on Protests, Demands Internet Access

The European Union’s top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, condemned the Iranian authorities’ harsh response to ongoing protests, demanding the restoration of internet access in the country. On January 9, 2024, Kallas highlighted the struggle of the Iranian people, asserting that their fight for a better future should not be met with violence.

Kallas expressed her concerns in a post on X, stating, “The Iranian people are fighting for their future. By ignoring their rightful demands, the regime shows its true colours.” She criticized the “disproportionate and heavy-handed response” of security forces, emphasizing that “any violence against peaceful demonstrators is unacceptable.”

The EU’s call for improved conditions follows a period of civil unrest in Iran, where protests have escalated due to rising living costs. Kallas pointed out that the shutdown of internet access during these demonstrations reveals a regime that is “afraid of its own people.”

The EU’s position was echoed by a spokesperson who urged Iranian authorities to “uphold the rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly” and to restore internet services.

On the same day, Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, declared that the government would “not back down” in the face of protests, which have been some of the largest seen in nearly two weeks of unrest.

According to internet monitoring organization Netblocks, Iranian authorities have imposed a total connectivity blackout, with the country experiencing more than 12 hours offline by early Friday. This drastic measure appears to be an attempt to suppress the widespread protests that have erupted across the nation.

As tensions continue to rise, the EU remains vocal in its support for the rights of the Iranian people, asserting that restoring access to the internet is a critical step toward enabling free expression and peaceful assembly.