Nepal’s Gen Z Uprising: ‘Corruption’ Fuels Deadly Protests
Nepal protests (Image X.com)
UN and rights groups demand probe into excessive force while government withdraws social media ban amid mounting global pressure.
By TRH Global Affairs Desk
NEW DELHI, September 9, 2025 — Nepal witnessed its bloodiest day of protest in decades as youth-led demonstrations against corruption and authoritarian overreach left at least 19 people dead and more than 300 injured. What began as rallies against a government ban on social media platforms quickly escalated into a nationwide movement—one that Nepal’s Generation Z insists is about far more than internet access.
The UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) expressed shock at the killings, citing “deeply worrying allegations of unnecessary or disproportionate use of force by security forces” against largely peaceful protesters. “We urge a prompt and transparent investigation,” the UNHRC said, while calling on Nepal’s government to respect the right to peaceful assembly and freedom of expression.
Amnesty International echoed the concern, warning that the government must “adopt a rights-respecting approach in the policing of protests” and stressing that young Nepalis have every right to protest corruption and restrictions on free expression.
On the ground, however, anger is boiling over. Social media users accused international outlets of reducing the uprising to a protest against the social media ban. “This was—and still is—about corruption, unchecked privileges, and years of exploitation,” wrote Sunny on X.
Observers note that the death toll marks the largest single-day loss of life in any protest in Nepal’s history, surpassing even the 2006 Jana Andolan. “Most of the victims were young people,” one activist noted grimly.
International partners, including the embassies of Australia, Finland, France, Japan, Korea, the UK, and the US, issued a joint statement urging restraint and reaffirming support for the fundamental rights of peaceful assembly and freedom of expression.
Facing mounting pressure, Nepal’s government has now withdrawn the controversial social media ban. Yet critics argue this is a diversion. “The government is trying to change the narrative,” readers added in context on X. “The protest was against corruption, not just the ban.”
As Brahma Chellaney observed, Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli—who returned to power in 2024 and reoriented Kathmandu closer to Beijing—is now facing the gravest test of his rule. The Gen Z uprising, sparked by digital restrictions, has become a referendum on governance, corruption, and the accountability of Nepal’s political elite.
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