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🇮🇩 Indonesia /Culture & Society

Iran Protest Victim: 'They Were Shooting to Kill'

From Tempo · () Indonesian

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • Thousands of Iranians participated in widespread protests in January 2026 against the Tehran regime, fueled by economic grievances.
  • Security forces responded with gunfire and beatings, drawing international condemnation, though external support for protesters was limited.
  • Precise casualty figures remain unclear, with estimates varying widely and victims facing ongoing challenges due to untreated injuries and fear of reprisal.

In January 2026, weeks before anticipated attacks by the US and Israel, Iran witnessed its largest public uprising against the Tehran regime. Thousands of Iranians risked their lives in protests that began in December 2025, initially sparked by economic hardship but rapidly escalating in scope and intensity.

They were shooting to kill.

— Protest victimDescribing the actions of security forces during the January 2026 protests.

Iranian security forces, comprising elements from the Ministry of Intelligence, the Basij militia, and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), met the demonstrators with gunfire and beatings. This crackdown drew international condemnation, with then-US President Donald Trump even threatening military strikes, though direct assistance to the protesters did not materialize. The subsequent war overshadowed the aftermath of the crackdown, pushing support for the Iranian public's resistance off the international agenda.

Exact figures for those killed or injured remain elusive. Iranian authorities reported over 3,100 deaths, but Amnesty International suggests the actual number is likely much higher due to internet shutdowns, the scale of the crackdown, and pressure on victims' families. The US-based Human Rights Activists in Iran (HRANA) has confirmed over 7,000 deaths and investigated thousands more.

The scale of the crackdown drew international condemnation. At one point, US President Donald Trump threatened military strikes against the regime in response, telling protesters 'help is on its way.' But help never came.

— Article textDescribing the international reaction and limited support for the protests.

Seven months after the crackdown, many victims grapple with permanent physical disabilities and have lost opportunities for work and education. Obtaining information from within Iran is difficult and dangerous, leading many interviewees to use pseudonyms. One protester, identified as Massoud, died after enduring months of untreated wounds from being hit by pellets, followed by a gunshot to the thigh and a dislocated hip. His family struggled to fund his treatment, which was complicated by recurring infections. Fearing arrest and lacking secure medical facilities, many wounded sought treatment at home, a situation described as catastrophic by physician Hamid Hemmatpour.

The transfer and treatment of the injured during the protest crackdowns was catastrophic.

— Hamid HemmatpourA physician describing the medical response to injured protesters.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Tempo. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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