Internet disrupted in Iran as thousands gather to mourn singer Shajarian

Netblocks, the Internet monitoring firm, has in a report confirmed disruptions to Internet service in the Iranian city of Tehran on 8 October 2020. Metrics from live network data captured by Netblocks showed an ongoing decline in connectivity around the same time that Iranians gathered in the streets to celebrate the life of outspoken Iranian musician Mohammad Reza Shajarian. The celebrated musician had been banned from performing in his country after speaking in support of anti-government protests in 2009. The report mentions further that the nature of the disruption shares similar characteristics with prior localised Internet restrictions observed on 14 July 2020, when citizens protested against the death penalty when several youths who participated in a November 2019 anti-government protests were sentenced.