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Eyewitnesses describe lethal crackdown on Iranian protesters
A man identified only as Omid, fearing retaliation, recounted how Iranian security forces fired directly into crowds of unarmed demonstrators in a southern city. His voice trembled as he spoke: "We are fighting a brutal regime with empty hands."
Protests escalate after Supreme Leader's warning
Nationwide demonstrations surged last Thursday, marking the twelfth consecutive night of protests. Many joined after calls from Reza Pahlavi, the exiled son of Iran's last shah. The following day, Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei declared the Islamic Republic would "not back down," a statement widely seen as a green light for a violent crackdown.
State media later accused the U.S. and Israel of instigating unrest, labeling protesters as "rioters" responsible for attacks on mosques and banks. Videos verified by BBC Persian show police vehicles and government buildings set ablaze in multiple cities.
"A one-sided war": Witnesses detail bloodshed
A young woman from Tehran described last Friday as "the day of judgement." She said security forces "only killed and killed," leaving protesters with no means of defense. "In war, both sides have weapons. Here, people only chant and get killed," she said.
In Fardis, west of Tehran, eyewitnesses reported that paramilitary Basij forces, operating under the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), fired live ammunition at protesters from motorcycles. Unmarked cars allegedly drove into alleys, shooting at bystanders. "Two or three people were killed in every alley," one witness claimed.
Death toll disputed amid internet blackout
Iranian authorities have not released official casualty figures. The Norway-based Iran Human Rights group reported at least 648 protesters killed, including nine minors, but local sources suggest the toll could be far higher, ranging into the thousands. The BBC cannot independently verify these numbers.
State media, meanwhile, reported 100 security personnel killed during the unrest. Internet restrictions, including a near-total blackout, have severely hampered reporting, with BBC Persian banned from operating inside Iran.
Hospitals overwhelmed, bodies buried in secret
Medical staff described chaotic scenes in hospitals across Iran, with facilities overwhelmed by the influx of injured protesters, particularly those with head and eye wounds. Nurses reported bodies "stacked on top of each other" and denied to families.
In Mashhad, a mortuary worker said 180 to 200 bodies with severe head injuries were buried before sunrise on Friday. In Rasht, 70 bodies were transferred to a hospital mortuary, with security forces allegedly demanding "payment for bullets" before releasing them to relatives. A hospital in eastern Tehran received around 40 bodies on Thursday alone.
"The use of lethal force by security forces is concerning, regardless of the death toll," said Mai Sato, the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in Iran.
Mai Sato, UN Special Rapporteur
UN condemns violence as crackdown continues
UN Secretary-General António Guterres expressed shock at reports of excessive force by Iranian authorities, which have resulted in deaths and injuries. Videos from the Kahrizak Forensic Medical Centre in Tehran showed families identifying bodies amid rows of black bags, while others depicted corpses being unloaded from trucks.
Protesters in smaller towns, where internet access is limited, have been particularly vulnerable. Despite the blackout, the volume and consistency of accounts from multiple cities underscore the scale of the crackdown.
