It all began with popular protests on January 8, 2026, starting in Mashhad and quickly spreading to hundreds of cities-reaching over 200 locations in just a few days
The demonstrations lasted for weeks, with intense clashes, especially at night, even in the face of very violent repression.
Security forces, including the Revolutionary Guard, obtained live ammunition against peaceful protesters, targeting heads, necks, hearts, and eyes.
Reports indicate deaths of people of all ages, including teenagers, children, and even a five-year-old child killed in her mother’s arms.
Hospitals were stormed, doctors and the wounded were attacked, some executed on the spot, and ambulances were prevented from reaching victims.
There was also the use of toxic chemical agents, which caused serious injuries and deaths days later.
Due to the large number of deaths, bodies were abandoned in forensic centers, such as the one in Kharizak, as admitted by Iranian state television itself.
Some families, out of fear, buried their loved ones in secret, on their backyards.
To hide the scale of the violence, the regime imposed a near-total internet blackout, blocking international communications for weeks.
Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, in a speech on January 17th, admitted that “several thousand people” were killed, although he attempted to blame the United States for what happened.
Days later, the head of the judiciary ordered judges to expedite trials against detainees, without guaranteeing the right to a fair trial or lawyers of choice, paving the way for swift executions and harsh sentences.
The exact number of victims is difficult to confirm due to censorship, but estimates from human rights organizations, such as the opposition-linked group (PMOI/MEK) and the UN Special Rapporteur, indicate that thousands of people died-some sources speak of more than 15,000 in the first few days alone, with even higher reports in other analyses.
International organizations, such as Amnesty International, the UN, and several European leaders, strongly condemned the violence, calling it an unprecedented massacre, demanding independent investigations and an end to impunity.
They highlighted the courage of Iranians who continue to protest despite the risk.
The text emphasizes that this brutal repression, combined with the attempt to suppress the truth, has failed to silence the popular resistance, which continues to demand freedom, dignity, and justice throughout the country.
Published in 01/21/2026 09h44
Text adapted by AI (Grok) and translated via Google API in the English version. Images from public image libraries or credits in the caption.
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