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| IRAN - 26th day of protests (Hrana) |
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IRAN - Hrana Report on 26th day of protests: 5002 confirmed fatalities, 9,787 still under investigation
January 22, 2026: JANUARY 22, 2026 - IRAN. Hrana Report on 26th day of protests: 5002 confirmed fatalities, 9,787 still under investigation
Government Commits Violence, Denies Responsibility, and Continues Mass Arrests
On the 26th day of nationwide protests, according to aggregated data compiled by HRANA, the number of confirmed fatalities has reached 5,002, while the number of deaths still under investigation has risen to 9,787. In addition, at least 7,391 people have suffered serious injuries during the protests, and the total number of arrests has increased to 26,852. These figures were recorded under circumstances in which, just one day earlier, official authorities, by citing significantly lower numbers reportedly issued by the Legal Medicine Organization, attempted to solidify the government’s official narrative regarding the killings. At the same time, the internet shutdown in Iran, now approaching its third week, has continued unabated.
Developments on the twenty-sixth day of nationwide protests in Iran were shaped less by new events on the ground and more by efforts to entrench the government’s official narrative of the killings, the continued internet blackout with no clear timeline, and the escalation of international reactions and pressure. At the same time, a wider discrepancy emerged between the figures announced by the government and the data reported by independent human rights organizations.
Disruption of Communications on the Twenty-Sixth Day of the Protests
On the twenty-sixth day of nationwide protests, Iran’s communications situation remained in a critical and unprecedented state. The shutdown or severe disruption of internet access and digital communications, one of the central tools of control and repression, continued. According to data and reports published on this day, the internet blackout, which began on the evening of January 8, entered its third consecutive week. This situation has effectively reduced Iran’s connection to the global internet to the bare minimum, keeping the country in a state of “digital darkness.”
International internet monitoring organizations, including NetBlocks, released updated graphs showing that internet connectivity in Iran remains at its lowest level, with only very limited and tightly controlled connections available on certain domestic networks or in specific locations. These organizations emphasized that the disruption of digital communications in Iran is not a technical failure, but rather a deliberate and centralized decision by the authorities aimed at controlling the flow of information and preventing the dissemination of news about the suppression of protesters.
On the same day, uncertainty regarding when and how internet access might be restored also persisted. Official authorities, including the Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, stated that there is no specific timeline for the full removal of restrictions and that any restoration of access would occur in a “gradual, localized, and issue-based” manner. These statements were widely interpreted as signaling the continuation of controlled communications policies and the ongoing filtering and blocking of foreign platforms, even if limited internet access were to resume. At the same time, reports indicated that even in cases of temporary connectivity, access to many global communication platforms and social media networks remained blocked or highly unstable.
The consequences of this situation became increasingly evident on the twenty-sixth day. The communications shutdown has severely disrupted independent documentation of events, the transfer of images and videos related to the protests and repression, and even basic communication among families. Field reports indicate that many images depicting widespread violence during the peak days of the protests have leaked out of the country only after long delays, without the ability to accurately determine the time and location of the incidents. This has not only made the work of media outlets and human rights organizations more difficult, but has also greatly reduced the possibility of independently verifying official narratives.
Domestically, the internet shutdown has also brought about extensive economic and social consequences. Businesses, especially online businesses, and internet-based services have been effectively paralyzed, and many citizens have reported being unable to carry out daily tasks or access online banking, educational, and healthcare services. Some economic and social figures warned of its long-term repercussions for the economy, public mental well-being, and public trust.
In the media sphere, the continued disruption of communications has led citizens to increasingly turn to alternative news sources, including shortwave and medium-wave radio broadcasts, a phenomenon that itself reflects a serious regression in the country’s communications infrastructure.
Overall, the twenty-sixth day of the protests passed with communications disruption continuing not merely as a temporary measure, but as a structural component of the authorities’ security strategy for managing the crisis, a strategy whose consequences include an intensification of the information vacuum, the spread of rumors, and a deepening divide between the official narrative and the lived experiences of citizens.
The Security Atmosphere Prevailing in Cities
On the twenty-sixth day of nationwide protests, the security atmosphere across various cities in Iran was reported to remain heavy, pervasive, and deterrent. This environment relied less on overt clashes and more on preemptive control, displays of force, and the instilling of fear among the public. Field reports indicate that the visible presence of security forces, law enforcement units, and plainclothes agents in city centers, main squares, busy routes, and around sensitive sites continued noticeably, and in some areas intensified through mobile checkpoints and motorcycle patrols.
In many cities, these heightened security measures increased particularly during the late afternoon and nighttime hours, when security forces stationed themselves in streets and neighborhoods, effectively reducing the possibility of gatherings or collective movement to a minimum. Citizens have reported widespread checks, temporary vehicle stops, mobile phone inspections, and sporadic arrests, measures that, according to eyewitnesses, were less a response to specific assemblies and more preventive and intimidating in nature.
At the same time, reports emerged of increased pressure on the families of those killed and detained. In some cities, security forces reportedly visited homes or made phone calls warning families against holding memorial ceremonies, gathering, or speaking to the media. This approach is assessed as part of broader efforts to prevent the formation of new focal points of protest and to contain the social and symbolic dimensions of mourning.
The prevailing security environment has had a direct impact on citizens’ daily lives. A noticeable decline in nighttime movement, the early closure of some businesses, and widespread caution in public interactions were among the consequences highlighted in field reports.
Letter from the Human Rights Activists Addressed to the Human Rights Council on the Twenty-Sixth Day of the Protests
On the twenty-sixth day of nationwide protests, the Human Rights Activists in Iran (HRA/Hrana) published a letter addressed to the United Nations Human Rights Council, seeking to draw the attention of member states to what it described as “documented and alarming patterns of repression” in Iran. The letter was released on the eve of a special session of the Human Rights Council on Iran and was intended to provide concise, documented, and up-to-date information to assist council members in their decision-making.
In the letter, HRA emphasized that the findings presented were based on verified HRANA reports and individual case documentation, and that the figures cited represent absolute minimums. The organization warned that due to the ongoing internet shutdown and severe restrictions on the free flow of information, the true scale of repression and the number of victims could exceed the available data.
The central focus of the letter was the pattern of widespread use of lethal force against unarmed protesters. The organization referred to direct gunfire at demonstrators, the deaths of citizens in the streets, and the transfer of large numbers of injured individuals to medical facilities, describing this trend as indicative of serious and systematic violations of the right to life. At the same time, the letter pointed to mass arrests during and after the protests and warned about the unknown status of thousands of detainees, as well as restrictions on their access to lawyers and family members.
Another section of the letter addressed the issue of forced confessions, describing their broadcast on state media as a violation of the principles of fair trial and human dignity. In this context, the organization stressed that such actions not only impose additional psychological pressure on detainees, but are also used as a tool to legitimize repression.
The letter also emphasized the necessity of continued independent investigations and international accountability. HRA called on member states of the Human Rights Council to respond effectively to the human rights situation in Iran based on the available documentation and to prevent impunity for those responsible for widespread human rights violations. Overall, the letter seeks to provide decision-makers at the Human Rights Council with a clear picture of what has occurred during the protests, without delving into political analysis.
Statistics
Based on aggregated data recorded up to the end of the twenty-sixth day of the protests:
- Number of recorded gatherings/protests: 633 cases
- Number of cities involved (no duplicates): 192 cities
- Number of provinces involved (no duplicates): 31 provinces
- Confirmed fatalities: 5,002 individuals
- Protesters: 4,714
- minors (under 18 years old): 42
- Government-affiliated forces (military and civilian): 207
- Non-protesters/civilians: 39
- Fatalities under investigation: 9,787 individuals
- Seriously injured: 7,391 individuals
- Total arrests: 26,852 individuals
- Broadcasts of forced confessions: 192 cases
International Reactions on the Twenty-Sixth Day of the Protests
On the twenty-sixth day of Iran’s nationwide protests, international reactions continued less in the form of new immediate actions and more through intensified political stances, statements by foreign officials, and the growing linkage between Iran’s internal situation and regional security developments. A review of coverage in international media shows that Iran was simultaneously addressed on human rights, diplomatic, and security levels on this day.
The most significant international development was a clear stance taken by the European Parliament against the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). According to published reports, members of the European Parliament condemned the widespread repression of protesters and the nationwide internet shutdown in Iran, reiterating their position that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps should be designated as a terrorist organization. This position was expressed within official parliamentary sessions and statements, explicitly highlighting the IRGC’s role in suppressing protests, killing demonstrators, and committing widespread human rights violations.
Members of the European Parliament described the internet shutdown as part of the machinery of repression and concealment of violence, emphasizing that communications blackouts have severely limited independent documentation and accountability for those responsible for the crackdown. Some representatives called on the European Union to move beyond political statements and respond with concrete and binding measures, including targeted sanctions and legal action, in reaction to the IRGC’s role in repressing the protests.
Alongside these international meetings, statements by political leaders regarding Iran also drew attention. Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President of Ukraine, stated unequivocally that if the Islamic Republic is able to remain in power through the killing of its own citizens, it would signal the failure of the international community to effectively support the people of Iran. These remarks, which were widely circulated in public and media spaces, reflect a growing level of concern and frankness in the discourse of some political leaders regarding the repression of protests in Iran.
Overall, international reactions on the twenty-sixth day of the protests reflected not so much the adoption of immediate executive decisions, but rather the increasing political and security weight of the Iran dossier in global discourse. Clear statements by foreign leaders, the linking of Iran’s internal developments to regional security calculations, and sustained extensive media coverage indicate that the suppression of protests in Iran continues to be treated internationally as an issue that goes beyond a purely domestic crisis.
Government Responses on the Twenty-Sixth Day of the Protests
On the twenty-sixth day of nationwide protests, the Iranian government’s responses focused primarily on consolidating the official narrative of events, defending the performance of security and judicial institutions, and countering independent and international accounts. The collection of statements issued by officials on this day indicates that the authorities sought to present a unified portrayal of developments through the release of statistics, technical explanations, and security-based frameworks, while distancing themselves from responsibility for the killings and violence.
The most significant governmental stance on this day was the release and amplification of remarks by the head of the Legal Medicine Organization. Announcing what was described as a “final report,” he stated that 3,117 deaths had been recorded in the “recent incidents,” emphasizing that this figure was the result of “scientific and specialized” examinations of bodies. While he noted that women, children, the elderly, and passersby were among the victims, he simultaneously attributed the primary source of violence to what he called “terrorist elements.” The head of the organization claimed that victims had been killed using a wide range of weapons, including live ammunition, hunting rifles, pellet guns, and even bladed weapons, presenting this as evidence of the “criminal nature” of protesters and those involved in the unrest.
Continuing this narrative, government officials explicitly rejected higher figures published by media outlets and human rights organizations. Both the Legal Medicine Organization and the Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council dismissed reports claiming 12,000 to 20,000 deaths as “rumors” and “media distortions.” They argued that these figures stemmed from a misunderstanding of the forensic case-numbering system, which includes all unnatural deaths recorded over the course of a year and should not be attributed to the recent protests. Within this framework, officials also stated that delays in releasing official statistics were due to the need to carefully distinguish between ordinary civilians, government forces, and what they described as “armed elements.”
At the same time, the Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council and other security officials sought to shift public attention from human casualties to the alleged “destructive and violent dimensions” of the protests by presenting lists of claimed damages. These statements referred to the damage or destruction of hundreds of ambulances, banks, fuel stations, government buildings, and police vehicles, and even included allegations of damage to educational, religious, and cultural centers. This narrative portrayed the protests not as a social movement of dissent, but as an “organized and destructive action against national security.”
Another aspect of the government’s response addressed the issue of handing over bodies and interactions with the families of those killed. The Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council categorically denied that any money had been demanded from families in exchange for the return of victims’ bodies, claiming that in the few cases where burial-related fees at religious sites had been charged, orders had been issued to halt the practice and refund the amounts. These remarks were made in response to reports and testimonies alleging pressure on families and the extraction of payments for the release of bodies.
Alongside these points, the government’s security narrative on the twenty-sixth day intensified with new claims. Officials asserted that the recent protests were directed from outside the country and that “key elements” had organized and trained protesters through online platforms. It was also claimed that a significant portion of detainees had been under the influence of hallucinogenic substances or alcohol at the time of the violence, and promises were made to release “new confessions” related to these allegations. These statements reinforced a framework that denies social grievances as the root of the protests, instead presenting them as the product of “foreign conspiracy and organized unrest.”
Summary
The twenty-sixth day of nationwide protests passed with the consolidation of the government’s official narrative regarding casualty figures, the continuation of the internet shutdown with no clear horizon, and mounting international reactions and pressure. At the same time, the gap between official government statistics and independent human rights data persisted, remaining unresolved amid severe restrictions on access to information.
https://www.en-hrana.org/day-twenty-six-of-the-protests-government-commits-violence-denies-responsibility-and-continues-mass-arrests/ (Source: Hrana)
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