Nepal: 16 Dead in Violent Protests After Social Media Shutdown

At least 16 people have died and dozens were injured in Kathmandu, following anti-government protests in Nepal. The protests were triggered by the blocking of social networks.

The gatherings turned into a mass protest against the government's authoritarianism and corruption. According to international media, police intervened when thousands of protesters moved towards the parliament.

Nepal's Ministry of Communications and Information Technology announced the blocking of 26 social networks, including Facebook, Youtube, X, and LinkedIn, due to failure to complete the licensing process.

Protesters expressed their opposition to institutionalized corruption and the government's authoritarian practices. The government argued that the decision aims to create an environment to protect freedom of expression.