Iran International: Over 36,500 Killed by Iranian Security Forces in Two Days of Protests

Protests in Iran: An Escalating Crisis

According to ХВИЛЯ: According to an analysis of confidential documents from Iran's Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) and Ministry of Interior, as well as testimony from medical personnel and eyewitnesses, the editorial board of Iran International has confirmed that Iranian security forces killed over 36,500 people while suppressing protests on January 8-9. These protests occurred in more than 400 cities, and the reports detail extrajudicial killings and murders that took place in hospitals.

A Rapidly Rising Death Toll

Security forces clashed with demonstrants at over 400 locations. In a prior statement on January 13, the editorial board had cited a minimum of 12,000 fatalities. However, subsequent reports released on January 20, 21, 22, and 24 revealed a sharply escalating death toll, reaching:

• 27,500
• over 30,000
• 33,000
• 36,500

The report states that following a speech by Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei on January 9, slogans such as 'victory through terror' and 'fight them until the sedition is gone' were heard among IRGC commanders. The crackdown reportedly involved not only the IRGC and Basij forces but also proxy forces from Iraq and Syria. Furthermore, families of the deceased were required to pay significant sums to retrieve the bodies of their relatives.

The casualty data includes updated figures from various regions, illustrating the nationwide scale of the tragedy. For example, Mashhad recorded at least 1,800 deaths; Isfahan, Najafabad, and Khorasgan over 2,000; and Karaj, Shahriar, and Andishe at least 3,000. Kermanshah saw 700 deaths, and Gorgan 400. These figures starkly highlight the human cost of the state's response to the widespread unrest.

This report underscores the severity of the human rights situation in Iran, where state violence has been used to quell public dissent. The international community has long expressed concern over Iran's domestic policies and their regional implications. The rapidly increasing death toll indicates a deepening conflict between the state and its citizens, with potential consequences for Iran's internal stability and its foreign relations.