As nationwide protests that began on 28 December 2025 continue across Iran, security and military forces of the Islamic Republic have responded with widespread and violent repression.
Due to repeated internet shutdowns and severe communication restrictions, accurate casualty figures remain unavailable. However, existing reports and evidence point to a large-scale and systematic crackdown on protesters.
According to human rights organizations, at least 200 Kurdish citizens have been killed in various cities across Iran as a result of direct gunfire by state forces.
The deadliest incidents occurred on 18 January 2026 in Kermanshah, where local sources reported that at least 70 bodies of protesters were transferred to Taleghani Hospital. At the same time, more than 2,000 Kurdish citizens have been arrested in connection with the protests.
Human rights activists have raised serious concerns over the fate of detainees, warning of the risk of torture, denial of access to legal counsel, and detention in undisclosed facilities, and have called for an urgent international response to halt the ongoing abuses.