SW News: In Iran, the anti-hijab agitation has claimed close to 50 lives so far. Protests are rocking the country and they are being led by women against the draconian law that requires the wearing of a headscarf. It was sparked by the custodial death of Masha Amini, a 22-year-old girl who was arrested by the “morality police” on September 13 for “improperly wearing the hijab”. She fell into a coma while in detention after being allegedly tortured and died three days later.

According to Iran Human Rights, an Oslo-based organization, around 50 people lost their lives in the anti-government protests. The organization also revealed that the violence in the street spread over 80 towns and cities in the Muslim-majority nation.

As part of the measures to control the protesters, the Iran government cut internet connectivity in the capital, Tehran. This was also done to restrict the passing of information about agitations in the capital to the rest of the country and curb the flow of images and video footage to the outside world.

Just days after Elon Musk’s declaration that he would seek excuses from sanctions to facilitate his company's service in the Islamic Republic, the United States declared that it was easing export restrictions imposed on Iran as part of its plan to expand internet services in the country with which it has a strained relationship.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the new measures will "help counter the Iranian government's efforts to surveil and censor its citizens.” "It is clear that the Iranian government is afraid of its own people," he added.

"The great demonstration of the Iranian people condemning the conspirators and the sacrileges against religion took place today," Iran's Mehr news agency said.
Mahsa Amini, the young Kurdish girl was with her brother in Tehran when she was arrested on September 13 for not being properly covered in a headscarf. It is reported that she underwent torture in custody at Vozara Detention Center and went into a coma after collapsing while under detention.