In a world where information is power, the ongoing protests in Iran have become a challenging puzzle to piece together. The internet blackout has cast a dark shadow over the country, making it difficult to uncover the truth. But here's where it gets controversial: despite the blackout, we're determined to shed light on the situation.
Our team at BBC Verify, led by senior journalist Christine Jeavans, is working tirelessly to map the spread of protests across Iran. With the country closed off to direct reporting, we've turned to an innovative verification process. By analyzing hundreds of videos from social media and direct sources, we're pinpointing the exact locations of these protests. It's a meticulous task, involving the collection of latitude and longitude coordinates for each video.
For a clearer picture, we group these locations by town or city, creating a unique set of coordinates for each protest site. Finally, we bring these points to life on a map of Iran, revealing the full extent of the verified protests. This is where programming language R steps in, helping us visualize the spread.
However, it's important to note that this process isn't perfect. There may be protests happening that we haven't mapped yet, simply because we haven't received verified video evidence.
And this is the part most people miss: the internet blackout isn't a new tactic for Iranian authorities. They've repeatedly restricted internet access during periods of unrest, citing security concerns and cyber-attack allegations. The consequences can be dire, as seen in 2019 when over 100 protesters were believed to have lost their lives during a blackout.
Our colleagues at BBC Persian, including senior reporter Ghoncheh Habibiazad, have been investigating protests from various parts of Iran, including Tehran, Mashhad, Kish, and Ardabil. One notable incident is the fire at the offices of state broadcaster IRIB in Isfahan. By matching video features with satellite imagery on Google Earth, we've confirmed the location as the Young Journalists Club, a subsidiary of IRIB. The cause of the fire remains unknown, and we're awaiting updates on any potential injuries.
In today's edition of BBC Verify Live, journalist Thomas Copeland guides us through these developments. We'll be tracking the anti-government protests in Tehran and other Iranian cities, verifying videos and images of peaceful demonstrations and violent clashes. According to the US-based Human Rights Activist News Agency (HRANA), the death toll has risen to over 30 protesters and eight security personnel, with around 2,270 protesters arrested.
But the story doesn't end there. We'll also be exploring the missile strike on Kyiv by Russia, a response to an alleged drone attack on Putin's residence, which Kyiv denies. And following the tragic shooting in Minneapolis, we're investigating a similar incident in Portland, Oregon, involving a Border Patrol agent.
Join us as we navigate these complex and often controversial events, striving to bring you the facts amidst the chaos.
