What Happened in Nepal: Social Media Ban Lifted After Deadly Protests
Government Gives In After Violent Unrest
What happened in Nepal has drawn global attention: the government was forced to lift the Nepal social media ban after mass protests led by Gen Z turned deadly. At least 19 people were killed in clashes with the police, prompting a late-night cabinet meeting and a reversal of the ban.
Nepal’s Minister for Communications and Information Technology, Prithvi Subba Gurung, announced the decision, urging Gen Z protesters to end their demonstrations. “The government has already decided to open social media by addressing the demand of Gen Z,” he said.
No Regrets Over Ban, Says Government
Despite reopening social media platforms, Gurung stated that the government does not regret the earlier decision. He argued the shutdown was necessary to curb fake IDs, hate speech, and online fraud. “Since protests were being staged using this issue as a pretext, the decision has been taken to reopen social media sites,” he added.
PM Oli Defends Sovereignty
According to Nepal news today, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli said platform X disrespected Nepal’s sovereignty by refusing to register under new regulations. “We had asked them to comply with Nepal’s laws. It is a matter of respecting our national sovereignty,” Oli stated.
Platforms Blocked and Public Anger
Last week, the Nepal social media ban blocked Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, YouTube, Pinterest, Snapchat, and X after they failed to meet the registration deadline. Protesters, many of them youths, marched in Kathmandu with slogans like “Shut down corruption and not social media” and “Unban social media.”
The demonstrations escalated when thousands attempted to breach parliament barricades, leading police to respond with water cannons, batons, and rubber bullets.
Corruption at the Core of Protests
The Nepal protests reflect deep frustration over corruption. Many Nepalis accuse the government of failing to deliver on promises while politicians’ families flaunt luxury lifestyles online. Protester Bhumika Bharati said, “There have been movements abroad against corruption, and they are afraid that might happen here as well.”
International Pressure
The United Nations has urged a transparent investigation into the killings. “We are shocked by the killings and injury of protesters in Nepal today and urge a prompt and transparent investigation,” said UN rights spokeswoman Ravina Shamdasani.
What’s Next?
The cabinet has formed an inquiry committee with 15 days to investigate the unrest. For now, the Nepal social media ban has been lifted, but the Nepal protests underline widespread discontent, making this one of the most significant events in Nepal news today.
