Reports trickling out of Iran, under conditions of total internet blackout, reveal a systematic and organized massacre of protesters across multiple cities.
Accounts describe deliberate arson of gathering places, trapping civilians in smoke and fire, direct shooting of unarmed individuals, and execution-style killings of the wounded. These incidents provide clear evidence of crimes against humanity carried out by the clerical regime in its brutal crackdown on nationwide uprisings.
Meanwhile, reports indicate ongoing clashes between rebellious youths and special security units in the heart of Tehran and other cities, which are effectively under a state of undeclared martial law.
This is the resolve of a nation that, despite severe repression and suffocating restrictions, has risen for the fourth time in eight years to break free from the grip of a tyrannical regime and claim freedom. This latest uprising, braver than ever, has met with the deadliest and most savage response from the authorities. As the regime’s deputy head of the armed forces’ cultural office, Abolfazl Shekarchi, bluntly admitted: “Even a few minutes, even a few hours of delay, and the situation would have been different.” (Student News Agency, January 20, 2026)
In line with this narrative, the regime’s Security Council attempted to manipulate public perception by publishing fabricated casualty statistics, obscuring the direct responsibility of the authorities and their security forces.
Deliberate Arson of the Historic Bazaar of Rasht
Eyewitnesses report that on the evening of January 8, 2026, security forces deliberately set fire to the historic bazaar of Rasht, where many protesters had sought refuge. As people tried to escape, forces opened fire, killing some through smoke and burns and shooting others as they fled.
A haunting photograph of abandoned shoes in the bazaar of Rasht has come to symbolize the regime’s horrific attempt to crush dissent. Many have compared it to the display of victims’ shoes at the U.S. Holocaust Museum, a similarity that is more than symbolic, reflecting a pattern of systematic civilian annihilation.
Soren Edgar, vice president of the Australian-Iranian community alliance, wrote on X (formerly Twitter): “If this isn’t a crime against humanity, then what is?”
Massacre of Protesters in Mashhad
An eyewitness in Mashhad described the events of the night of January 8: large crowds had gathered in neighborhoods including Daneshjoo, Sayyad Shirazi Street, Vakilabad Boulevard, Haft-e Tir Street, and Chaharrah Pirouzi. Security forces, stationed near the Basij base in Haft-e Tir, opened fire with live ammunition. Plainclothes officers and special units led the crackdown.
In other areas, such as Mellat Park and Shandiz, the slaughter was even more severe. Armed forces violently stormed homes sheltering protesters, arresting those inside.
Witnesses reported that, despite efforts by authorities to erase evidence, blood remained on pavements the next morning, anti-regime slogans were blackened and destroyed bus stops bore witness to the previous night’s clashes.
Bloodbath in Fardis Streets
The city of Fardis, near Karaj, was also a major center of protest and lethal repression. An eyewitness recounted the heavy presence of people in the streets, intense clashes with security forces, and what they described as a “bloodbath.”
According to the witness, at Fardis Third Square, security forces suddenly attacked civilians with machine guns. The massacre lasted from 8:00 PM on January 9 until 9:30 PM, with skirmishes continuing until midnight. By 3:30 AM, when the witness emerged from hiding, authorities had already collected the bodies of the dead. Among the wounded were the elderly, young adults, and even children; many had been executed at close range.
On the night of January 8, in the Siah-Nush area of Fardis, government forces also opened fire on civilians.
Systematic Repression and Organized Massacre
Reports from multiple cities indicate a coordinated pattern of repression: use of military-grade weapons, targeting the head and chest of protesters, execution of the wounded, collection of corpses, and internet shutdowns. Deliberate arson of protest sites, shooting unarmed civilians, trapping people in smoke and fire, and obstructing medical aid all demonstrate an organized campaign of lethal repression and ongoing crimes against humanity during the nationwide uprising.
Government Falsification of Casualty Figures
Nearly two weeks after one of the deadliest crackdowns in Iranian history, the regime’s Security Council claimed in a so-called “analytical” statement that 3,117 people were killed during the 8–9 January uprising. According to the statement, 2,427 were “innocent civilians and law enforcement personnel” and 690 were “terrorists and rioters.” This clear attempt to downplay the regime’s direct responsibility contrasts sharply with independent reports:
CBS News, on January 13, citing medical personnel and treatment centers inside Iran who transmitted information under extreme difficulty, reported at least 12,000 deaths, with the total possibly reaching 20,000.
Ali Akbar Pourjamshidian, secretary of the Security Council, justified the delay in releasing figures as a matter of “accuracy in distinguishing the deceased.” He claimed that many of those killed were shot at close range, asserting: “Since police maintain a distance from the crowd, being shot at close range indicates that others among the rioters fired on civilians.” (Tasnim News, January 21, 2026)
Witnesses, however, consistently report that it was the government forces who executed wounded protesters and even collected corpses to conceal the scale of the massacre.
Identification of Martyrs, Mass Graves, and Extortion
The People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) announced on January 20 that it had confirmed the identities of 103 additional martyrs of the nationwide uprising. To date, 321 martyrs have been identified, including 37 women.
The PMOI announced on January 12, that the death toll during the nationwide uprising between December 28, 2025, and January 11, 2026, had exceeded 3,000 across Iran.
Simultaneously, reports from cities such as Kerman and Rasht indicate the creation of mass graves and secret burials by the regime. Security agencies reportedly pressured families into silence, and in some cases demanded up to 800 million tomans to release the bodies—a further sign of a systematic effort to conceal the crimes.
Ongoing Uprising and Street Clashes
Reports leaking despite the internet blackout indicate continuing confrontations between young protesters and special security units across cities. On the night of January 19, youths in Tehran attacked a Basij base in the Atabak district, which had killed many young demonstrators, and set it ablaze.
Clashes also erupted in Rasht, Kermanshah, and Mashhad, with ongoing street battles. In Zahedan, brave young people blocked key government routes with fire, chanting: “Death to the oppressor, be it the Shah or the mullahs’ leader.”
On January 18, Tehran, Tabriz, and Izeh witnessed heavy confrontations with security forces.
In the Regime’s Dead End, the Uprising Continues
Together, these reports paint a stark picture of Iran today: a regime that resorts to organized killing, arson, data manipulation, secret burials, and open repression to maintain power. Yet the continuation of protests and street clashes, on Day 26 of the uprising, demonstrates that violence and crimes have not stopped the uprising. On the contrary, they have only strengthened the people’s resolve to end a regime built on oppression.
