On social networks, Iranians share anger and concern

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Motorists stop their vehicles on the highway November 16, 2019, in Tehran to protest against rising gas prices. Nazanin Tabatabaee / WANA via REUTERS

In Iran the announcement of the increase in the price of fuel provoked the ire of a population already suffocated by sanctions and the economic crisis. Faced with the scale of the protests, the authorities cut off the internet. On social networks, the anger of the Iranians has given way to outrage by Internet users in the face of repression.

" The essence is directly related to the purse of the Iranians, " wrote on November 15 an Iranian on Twitter . For him, indeed, it is only the beginning: " you think that it comes down to only your car? Think again, tomorrow, all prices will go up . "

This was the straw that broke the camel's back: on Friday, the Iranian High Economic Coordinating Council (composed of the heads of the three executive, legislative and judiciary branches) announced a rise in gas prices and rationing: " Without preparing public opinion, how can they (the government) raise the price of gasoline by 200% ? "Asks a user on Twitter too .

► See also: Iran: arrests after violent demonstrations in recent days

The government's stated goal was to return the profits to the most disadvantaged Iranians, about 60 million people, to fight smuggling and over-consumption. But, while inflation reached 40%, the Iranians, harassed by the economic crisis and sanctions, no longer believe in the promises of the state. " Yes, which disadvantaged will benefit from these aids? Hezbollah, Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan, Yemen ", asks a user . " Remember, last time they raised the price of gas, they planned to invest profits in public transport, " says another Iranian .

Blocking traffic

Saturday, on Instagram, Négin is already sad: " I have been in depression for two days, so I'm afraid for the future, " she wrote. Without finding work, many young people are drivers of Snapp (the Iranian Uber), so they are directly affected by rising fuel prices. Thus, as of Saturday, the population went down in the streets. Via the Waze navigation app, they decide to turn off their vehicle in the middle of the roadway or highway blocking traffic. " The challenge of stopping vehicles has begun, " reads a message . " Turn off your cars, go play in the snow with your family until they lower the price of gas, " adds another. On Instagram or Twitter, we could see many videos or gigantic traffic jams . " People are clearly dissatisfied, " says Asal. In a video broadcast on Telegram's secure messaging service by Iranian observer Vahid Online, people are shouting " we have no money, we have no money left ". In this other video , we can see a woman speak and ask the protesters not to use violence and not to commit acts of vandalism. " In the last four years, apart from our own government, no opposition group has been able to get all the people out on the streets overnight ! " Wrote one user on Twitter .

Riots all over the country

On Instagram, Iranian journalist Hassan Shemshadi also shares a video of protests: " Here in Golestan, a rally against the rising price of gas, " he said. In the comments Mahmood is skeptical. For him the rise in price is a diversion: " Is not there something bigger happening behind the scenes ? It's too weird, "he wrote. Zahra wonders: " In Isfahan, they burn everything and insult the Guide and the government, those are also the population in your opinion? ".

See this post on Instagram

. نه # شورش نه # بلوا فقط حق # فقرا. اینجا # گلستان است و این هم تجمعی در اعتراض به افزایش قیمت # بنزین

A publication shared by حسن شمشادی (@ shemshadi.hassan1) on Nov. 16, 2019 at 10:08 PST

Soon, peaceful protests turned into riots. In some photos we see that the demonstrators set fire to banks . According to one user , " more than 140 banks were burned in Shiraz ". In its report the Iranian news agency Fars News reports about a hundred banks burned or looted in one region, without specifying which one. " The demonstrators are also attacking administrative buildings ," confirms Mohsen by phone. The Iranian photographer, Ali Khara, also posted some photos of the visible degradations in Tehran on his Instagram page. Finally, according to this video broadcast by Vahid Online, anti-regime slogans are mingled with slogans in reference to the Islamic Republic's support for Hamas and Hezbollah: "neither Gaza nor Lebanon, I am sacrificing myself for Iran".

🔴 گزارشی تصویری از بانکهای به آتش کشیده شده در # شيراز # IranProtest

لینک مطلب: https://t.co/rDbDnv2DSs pic.twitter.com/DFahERGZJf

Iran cut off from the world

Saturday, faced with the magnitude of the protests - according to the news agency Fars news , there were 87,000 "protesters and rioters" - the government quickly decided to cut the internet . One way to prevent the population from organizing new events. Only the national network is open to allow Iranians to use local applications. "(...) This is the worst censorship in our history. The total cessation of relations with the world, " says a user on Twitter. Iran is isolated: " we can not even go on Google, " said Mohsen. " Without the Internet, our lives are stopped, " says Asal. Abroad, families are worried. On Instagram Saara reacts: " it's been two days since I have no news of my family of friends, of my country ".

Especially because of the internet shutdown, it is very difficult to know the exact number of deaths. The official media has five deaths, including four members of the police. The conservative newspaper Tasnim pays tribute to one of them. Fars News speaks in its report of 1,000 arrests. However, videos show that the authorities do not hesitate to repress the demonstrators with live ammunition as this video shows:

#IranProtests: We have gotten more direct videos of protesters by # Iran's government snipers. These images are from the western city of Kermanshah. Clearly showing them from the back of the trees and the corners to the protesters and then firing. https://t.co/AiseSZ51m6

or this one:

#IranProtests Day 3:
Tehran Special Forces caught directing fire at protestors. Watch to the end. # اعتراضات_سراسري pic.twitter.com/qhnb25r8I5

Iranian photographer Ali Khara also posted photos of injured people treated at the hospital: " Some people were wounded by gunshots ," he writes. Photos of bodies and scenes of war are also relayed on Twitter. Audits are complicated, but Amnesty International reports at least 106 deaths in four days in 21 cities.

The Iranian opposition, France and Germany reacted to the events, recalling the legitimate right of the people to protest. Reza Pahlavi, son of the last shah of Iran, also tweeted : " the only solution is the fall of this criminal regime and foreign to the interests of Iran ". The United States has also supported the Iranian people. In the meantime, she has been in private for more than 4 days.

France is following closely the demonstrations that are currently taking place in several cities in Iran. She reiterated her commitment to respect for freedom of expression and the right to demonstrate peacefully. pic.twitter.com/6exDBZFxpk