Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); January 6, 2026: At least 27 protesters including five teenagers under the age of 18, have been killed and hundreds injured in the first ten days of the anti-government nationwide protests. Reports indicate that government forces have carried out widespread, mass arrests of protesters in several cities, including Ilam, Shiraz, Isfahan, and Harsin in Kermanshah Province. The number of people detained in the recent protests has now exceeded 1,000.
The protests have spread to at least 26 provinces and approximately 80 cities across Iran, and students have held protest gatherings at more than 20 universities nationwide.
On the evening of 4 January, Islamic Republic forces raided Khomeini Hospital in Ilam, where a group of wounded protesters from Malekshahi county had been transferred for medical treatment. Reports have also emerged of anti-riot special forces raiding Sina Hospital in Tehran today, firing tear gas within the hospital grounds
The simultaneous publication of threats by the head of the judiciary, and the broadcast of forced confessions from unidentified detainees on state media, has intensified concerns about the possible issuing of death sentences for detained protesters.
On 5 January, Gholamhossein Mohseni-Ejei, the head of Iran’s judiciary, warned of even harsher repression, stating that, as in previous periods, no leniency would be shown towards protesters.
Iran Human Rights considers the use of live ammunition against protesters and the attack on hospitals as international crimes, and calls for an immediate response from the international community.
In this regard, Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam, the director of Iran Human Rights, said: “The Islamic Republic has a well-documented record of bloody repression and mass killings of protesters in past uprisings. Now, as the regime is more unstable than ever and seriously fears for its survival, there is a grave concern that the scale of repression this time may be even more violent and widespread than before. The United Nations and the international community have a responsibility to act decisively to prevent another mass killing of protesters.”
This 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. Over the past week, protests have continued in at least 26 provinces and around 80 cities across the country.
Over the past ten days, at least 19 universities — including the University of Tehran, Allameh Tabatabaei University, Kharazmi University (Karaj), Shiraz University, Khajeh Nasir University, Sharif University of Technology, Shahid Beheshti University, Shiraz University of Art, the University of Science and Culture, the University of Isfahan, Iran University of Science and Technology, Yazd University, Amirkabir University, Kharazmi University (Tehran), Isfahan University of Technology, Shahrud University of Technology, Tarbiat Modares University, Birjand University, and Hormozgan University — have witnessed student protests and anti-government chants.
According to information collected by IHRNGO, at least 27 protesters have been killed by gunfire or other forms of violence carried out by security forces in eight provinces. Five of those killed have been verified to have been children. The organisation is currently working to verify the additional reports of deaths.
Reports received by the organisation indicate that more than 1,000 people have been arrested in cities across Iran. In Harsin, Kermanshah province, more than 100 school children are reported to be among those detained.
Malekshahi county in Ilam province has been one of the main focal points of the recent protests. Newly published footage from 3 January shows security forces firing directly at protesters. IHRNGO has verified the identities of six protesters killed in Malekshahi, while several additional cases remain under review.
On 4 January, a day after protesters were shot, security forces raided Khomeini Hospital in Ilam where a number of wounded protesters from Malekshahi had been transferred for treatment.
According to reports, security forces attempted to enter the hospital to arrest several injured protesters, but were met with resistance from the protesters’ relatives and medical staff. Ultimately, they violently forced their way into the hospital and arrested a group of the protesters. Around 200 people are reported to have been arrested in the vicinity of Khomeini Hospital which IHRNGO has not been able to independently verify. The IRGC-affiliated Fars New Agency confirmed the arrests, reporting that “protesters were using the hospital as cover.”
Reports have also emerged of an attack by the special anti-riot unit on Sina Hospital on Hasanabad Street in Tehran today (6 January). The attack reportedly followed a group of protesters taking refuge inside the hospital building. Videos circulated online appear to show tear gas being fired in and around the hospital and surrounding area.
Following the remarks of Ali Khamenei, the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic, on 3 January calling for harsh action against protesters, judicial and law enforcement officials have also adopted increasingly aggressive language. Among them, Gholamhossein Mohseni-Ejei, Head of the Judiciary, and Ahmadreza Radan, Commander of the Law Enforcement Forces of the Islamic Republic, have linked the protesters to foreign powers and threatened them with severe repercussions.
Mohseni-Ejei, stressing the need for the Prosecutor General and prosecutors across the country to confront protesters without any “leniency or tolerance”, said: “Our people’s main enemies, namely the American and Zionist regimes, are at this moment openly and officially supporting the unrest in our country. Therefore, no rioter can any longer claim to have been misled.”
The Head of the Judiciary also emphasised the need for rapid handling of cases in dedicated branches and stated that the files of protesters who, during the demonstrations, “have committed other crimes and have been carrying firearms or cold weapons must be immediately and thoroughly investigated by the prosecutor’s offices. Once these cases are sent to the courts, there must be no delay or hesitation in holding trials and issuing verdicts against these elements. It must not be the case that a verdict is issued six months later for a rioter who committed additional crimes during the unrest. This would lack any deterrent effect.”
State media are also continuing to air the “confessions” of unidentified protesters. The so-called confessions of a young man from Shiraz, an 18-year-old boy from Malard and two young protesters from Isfahan are the latest to have been published by Fars News Agency.
The Shiraz protester whose forced confession has been aired, has been accused of attacking security officers with a gas canister and of setting an officer on fire. However, according to a source close to the detained man, “the individual in question had no role in the attack on the officers.”
Two other groups of four and six defendants were paraded before state media cameras in Qazvin and Lorestan provinces.
Authorities have historically aired confessions extracted under coercion and torture prior to the commencement of any legal proceedings. The “confessions” are later used as evidence in unfair trials that are marred by due process violations.