No Instagram, Whatsapp in Iran as hijab protests grow: Internet curbs explained

Iran blocked access to Instagram and WhatsApp imposing drastic restrictions on internet access on Thursday. The protests which entered the seventh day started after the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini last week, who was arrested by the controversial morality police in Tehran for "unsuitable attire"- not wearing a hijab- and allegedly beaten up.

"In accordance with a decision by officials, it has no longer been possible to access Instagram in Iran since yesterday (Wednesday) evening and access to WhatsApp is also disrupted," Iran's Fars news agency reported as per AFP.

Video: Iran protesters set fire to police station as hijab unrest spreads

Instagram and Whatsapp are the most widely used applications in Iran followed by Facebook, Twitter, Telegram, YouTube and Tiktok.

Here's a look at the internet curbs in Iran:

Notably, internet access in Iran is already extremely restricted by the government and only those with access to VPNs can see uncensored content on the international websites. These connections have also slowed as the protests have spread, reports suggested.

Hengaw, a Kurdish rights group, said internet had been cut completely in the Kurdistan province on Wednesday, where protests have been intense.