By Amr Gohar
Washington, D.C. – Iranian authorities are facing accusations of imposing a widespread communications blackout on millions of citizens, with Agnès Callamard, Secretary General of Amnesty International, describing the move as a serious human rights violation.
According to statements from Amnesty International, Callamard said the alleged shutdown has left up to 90 million people in what she described as “digital darkness,” cutting off access to information and limiting communication with the outside world.
She stated that since late February, Iranians have faced prolonged disruptions, calling the situation a “digital siege” that restricts basic freedoms, including the right to access information and communicate freely.
Callamard argued the blackout is not simply a technical measure but part of a broader strategy to conceal alleged abuses, including arrests and executions, and to limit international awareness of developments inside the country.
She also warned that restricting internet access could prevent information about internal conditions from reaching the global community, particularly during a period of heightened tensions and political uncertainty.
The Amnesty chief criticized what she described as limited international response, saying that a lack of action risks enabling further repression. She called on governments and international organizations to take steps to ensure access to information and to support the rights of Iranian citizens.
Iranian authorities have not publicly responded to these specific allegations. Independent verification of the scale and intent of the reported disruptions remains limited.
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