Mahsa Anniversary: Security Presence Beefed Up in Iranian Cities

Military forces and police officers have reportedly been deployed in Tehran and other Iranian cities ahead of the first anniversary of Mahsa Amini's death, as residents complained about the widespread disruption of internet services. 

According to a reporter from Shargh newspaper, the presence of armed military personnel has significantly increased in the main streets of several cities across the country. It also reported a decrease in internet speed. 

Tehran residents were quoted as saying that paving projects in the center of the capital have resulted in street closures and the installation of more surveillance cameras.

Sources in Mashhad, Tabriz, Sanandaj and Zahedan also reported an increased presence of security forces in these cities. 

A resident of Mashhad told IranWire that members of the paramilitary Basij force are patrolling busy areas of the northeastern city, while its main squares are filled with special forces on motorcycles. 

"Mobile internet access is nearly impossible; connecting to VPNs requires Wi-Fi but it’s difficult," the resident also said. 

In the western Kurdish city of Saqqez, where Amini is buried, armed forces are deployed in the main streets and squares. 

It's likely that the number of forces in the city will continue to increase ahead of the September 16 anniversary of Amini's death in police custody.

In recent days, numerous civil activists were arrested across the country, while civil and political groups, as well as opposition figures, called on Iranians to take to the streets for anti-establishment protests.

The 22-year-old Amini died after falling into a coma following her arrest for not wearing a headscarf "properly," sparking months of nationwide protests.