Anonymous launches hacking operation against Iran following Amini's death

Mahsa Amini fell into a coma and died after being arrested by Iranian police for supposedly wearing her hijab incorrectly.

Anonymous video message (photo credit: screenshot)
Anonymous video message
(photo credit: screenshot)

The Anonymous hacktivist group launched a hacking campaign against Iran this week following the death of Iranian woman Mahsa Amini.

Amini was arrested by Iranian police this week, for allegedly not wearing her hijab correctly, and fell into a coma following the arrest, dying shortly after. 

Her death sparked much rage and protest against the Iranian regime with Iranian women taking to social media and cutting their hair and burning their hijabs.

The protests continued in the streets as well as people marched in protest of the government and burned hijabs in the street.

In one video, a woman used makeup to portray the brutality Amini suffered at the hands of the police. Tehran police claimed the arrest was justified and being used for education.

 A man gestures during a protest over the death of Mahsa Amini, a woman who died after being arrested by the Islamic republic's ''morality police'' (credit: WANA VIA REUTERS)
A man gestures during a protest over the death of Mahsa Amini, a woman who died after being arrested by the Islamic republic's ''morality police'' (credit: WANA VIA REUTERS)

Since Wednesday, Spid3r hacktivist group that is affiliated with Iran has been tweeting consistently, showing screenshots of its hacking operation with #OPIran. The screenshots included many Iranian government sites, the Iran Central Bank, Iran-affiliated Fars News Agency, Iran's forensic research center and many more.

"Anonymous supports the women of Iran in their fight against a brutal regime."

Anonymous

On Thursday, Anonymous tweeted in support of the protests, writing "Anonymous supports the women of Iran in their fight against a brutal regime." In a later tweet, the group explained the importance of using a VPN after saying that the Iranian people had been blocked from using Whatsapp and Instagram.

How to protest safely

In other tweets, Anonymous posted instructional videos on the safest ways to protest, for instance, how to properly cover your face so as to avoid being recognized and caught.

"We hear the calls of the Iranian people," the group wrote in another tweet. "We understand the abuse you suffer, and we will do our best to help the people of Iran as much as we can. Many hacktivists around the globe support the people of Iran and understand how repressive your government is."