Day 12 of Iran Protests: At Least 45 Including 8 Children Killed
Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); January 8, 2026: At least 45 protesters, including eight children under the age of 18, have been killed and hundreds more injured in the first twelve days of the new round of nationwide protests in Iran. 13 of the 45 protesters were killed on 7 January.
State forces have used live ammunition to suppress the protests and have carried out widespread, mass arrests in some cities. The number of people detained in relation to the protests has now exceeded 2,000.
Condemning the violent crackdown on protesters, Iran Human Rights considers the use of military weapons to be an international crime and calls for an immediate response from the international community.
Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam, the director of IHRNGO said: “The evidence shows that the scope of crackdown is becoming more violent and more extensive every day. The United Nations and the international community have a responsibility to act decisively, within the framework of international law, to prevent the mass killing of protesters.”
The new round of protests, which began on 28 December 2025 in Tehran’s bazaar over poor economic conditions, quickly spread to other parts of Iran, accompanied by anti-government slogans. In the first twelve days, the protests have expanded to 31 provinces and approximately 110 cities. Furthermore, at least 36 Iranian universities have participated in protests and anti-government slogans.
According to data and information collected by IHRNGO, at least 45 protesters have been killed in 11 provinces. It should be noted that the number only includes cases verified directly by IHRNGO or through two independent sources. Eight of those killed are reported to have been under 18 years old. IHRNGO is working to confirm their exact ages through document identification.
Wednesday, 7 January, was the bloodiest recorded day of the protests. At least eight people were killed in the Western regions of Iran. On the same day, IHRNGO recorded the killings of five other protesters in Shiraz, Malard, Chenaran and Khoshkbijar.
Meanwhile, state media have announced the deaths of five security forces in the first twelve days.
IHRNGO is working to verify additional reports of protester fatalities in cities across Iran.
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