The Center for Human Rights in Iran (CHRI) warned Friday that Iranian authorities may be carrying out mass killings of protesters amid a nationwide internet and communications blackout, raising alarm over the scale of violence unfolding during ongoing anti-regime unrest.
In a statement issued January 9, CHRI said it has received credible first-hand reports of hospitals overwhelmed with injured protesters in Tehran, Mashhad, and Karaj, while cautioning that conditions in other parts of the country may be similarly severe but remain difficult to assess due to the communications shutdown.
CHRI said it has documented the use of live ammunition against protesters in multiple cities and reported violent raids on hospitals by state security forces attempting to detain wounded demonstrators. The organization also said it is investigating unconfirmed reports of mass killings that allegedly occurred the night of January 8.
The rights group warned that the internet blackout is particularly alarming, noting that Iranian authorities have historically imposed nationwide shutdowns ahead of large-scale crackdowns. CHRI cited the November 2019 protests, when Iranian authorities cut internet access before security forces killed more than 1,000 protesters, according to international human rights investigations.
Human rights monitors have also reported a sharply rising death toll as unrest continues. The Human Rights Activists in Iran (HRANA) group has said that more than 500 people have been killed and over 10,000 detained since protests began late last month. Reuters reported that it has been unable to independently verify the figures, and Iranian authorities have not released official casualty numbers.
The unrest began December 28 amid Iran’s worsening economic crisis and has since expanded into the largest anti-government demonstrations in years, with protests reported across multiple provinces.
The situation has drawn increased international attention. President Donald Trump has publicly warned Iran against using lethal force on protesters and said the United States stands ready to assist, according to Reuters reporting. U.S. officials have confirmed that the president has been briefed on potential response options, though no decisions have been announced.
Reuters also reported that Trump is scheduled to meet with senior advisers on Tuesday to discuss Iran, according to a U.S. official.
CHRI urged governments worldwide and senior United Nations officials to publicly condemn the violence, recall ambassadors from Tehran, and warn Iranian authorities that they will be held accountable politically, economically, and legally for unlawful killings.
The group also called on countries with diplomatic missions in Iran to actively monitor developments and use secure communications — including satellite internet — to ensure information can reach the international community.
Iranian officials have continued to characterize protesters as “rioters” and have blamed foreign actors for the unrest. No final findings have been released regarding the reported killings, and human rights organizations say casualty figures may continue to rise as information becomes available.
