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| IRAN - Protest-Day 37 (Hrana) |
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IRAN - Hrana Report on 37th day of protests: 6,854 confirmed deaths, 11,280 under investigation
February 2, 2026: February 2, 2026 - IRAN. Hrana Report on 37th day of protests: 6,854 confirmed deaths, 11,280 under investigation
Day 37 of the Protests: Condemnation by Various Social Groups of the Crackdown and the Continued Arrests
Based on the latest aggregated data up to the end of the 37th day since the start of the protests, the total number of confirmed deaths has reached 6,854. According to these figures, 6,430 of those killed are registered as protesters, while 152 are categorized as minors under 18. In addition, 214 individuals affiliated with government forces and 58 non-protesting civilians have been reported. 11,280 cases remain under investigation.
During the same period, a total of 50,235 arrests were recorded, including 106 student arrests, 303 forced confessions, and 11,046 summonses. The total number of registered protest-related incidents stands at 666 locations across 209 cities in 31 provinces.
Developments on the 37th day were marked by a surge in condemnation statements addressing repression and its human consequences; the continued pattern of scattered arrests and the prolonged legal limbo of detainees; the imposition of new UK sanctions alongside the announcement and holding of a specialized meeting in The Hague on the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps; and persistent communication disruptions that have inflicted serious damage on postal services and online businesses.
Statements: Warnings on the Human Consequences of Repression and Demands for Accountability
On the 37th day, four notable statements were issued by various groups, all emphasizing a shared concern: the human cost of repression is rising, and responsibility lies with decision-makers and those carrying out on-the-ground crackdowns.
1) Statement by a Group of Iranian Ophthalmologists
A group of ophthalmologists released an open letter warning about the growing number of severe eye injuries and cases of permanent blindness resulting from the suppression of protests. The statement identifies the use of pellet guns as the main cause and stresses that targeting people’s faces and eyes is medically and ethically unacceptable. The signatories described blinding civilians as a violation of human dignity and called on executive, military, law-enforcement, and judicial authorities to urgently address the consequences of this practice.
2) Statement by Teachers in Eslamabad-e Gharb
The Teachers’ Trade Association of Eslamabad-e Gharb issued a statement condemning the killing and mass arrests of protesters, describing them as an “unforgettable crime” in the collective memory of society. The statement notes that after years of enduring economic, social, educational, and healthcare pressures, alongside rising poverty and inequality, people took to the streets, only to be met with violence, live gunefire, killings, and arrests. Emphasizing that continued violence is not a solution, the association called for the release of all detainees and recognition of the people’s right to determine their social destiny.
3) Statement by the Coordinating Council of Iranian Teachers’ Trade Associations
The council condemned what it called the “bloody killing and repression” of protesters and held the authorities responsible. It outlined three key demands: the immediate and unconditional release of all detainees; an end to the militarization of educational spaces; and accountability for those responsible for the crackdown before public opinion and independent international bodies. The statement also referenced the killing of minors and adolescents, mass arrests, enforced disappearances, and inhumane pressure in detention facilities, describing them as signs of a deep crisis in governance.
4) Statement by the Union of Social Science Associations
The Union of Social Science Associations condemned the “painful events of January 2026” and expressed solidarity with grieving families. The union stressed that these events were not sudden, but rooted in accumulated discrimination, inequality, social divides, mismanagement, communication disruptions, structural corruption, political obstruction, and foreign interference—factors whose consequences had long been warned about. In conclusion, the statement called for a firm rejection of violence from all sides, prioritizing human dignity and national interests, preventing the erosion of development resources, avoiding international isolation and the risk of war, and urgently addressing people’s basic livelihood needs.
Continued Arrests and Other Repressive Measures
Reports from the 37th day indicate that arrests have continued in a scattered yet sustained manner, targeting a wide range of citizens, including students, writers, and teachers. In some cases, arrests were accompanied by home searches and the confiscation of personal belongings.
Over the past 24 hours, Ali Albo Halaf and Hossein Oudeh (students at Islamic Azad University in Varamin), Abdolbasir Sepahi (Mashhad), Elias Rahimzadeh (Bojnord), Reza Sheikhi-Zadeh, Farhad Nasiri, Sardar Seyyed Rahimi (Miandoab), Amir Soleimani (a student in Tehran), Milad Esmaili and Mashaallah Soltanian (Ilam Province), as well as Azad Rasouli-Fard and Rahim Shilani (Bukan), were arrested by security forces.
At the same time, it has been reported that Houman Jalil, a student at Chamran University of Ahvaz, remains in legal limbo 26 days after his arrest and is being held in Sheiban Prison in Ahvaz. According to available reports, he was arrested with violence on Thursday, January 8, in Ahvaz and subsequently transferred to Sheiban Prison.
Domestic state media have also reported the arrest of 49 citizens in Pardis, the detention of four foreign nationals in Baharestan, and the arrest of an unspecified number of individuals in Kerman Province in connection with the protests.
Separately, it has been confirmed that Masoud Yousef Hasirchin, a translator and writer residing in Khuzestan Province, was arrested on 28 Dey by Intelligence Organization of the IRGC agents. Reports indicate that prior to his arrest, agents searched his home and confiscated personal items. According to supplementary reports, security forces had also visited his home on January 16, seizing items including books, a mobile phone, and a laptop. Following his arrest, he was transferred to a security detention facility and placed under interrogation.
It has also been reported that a citizen arrested during the protests in Gonbad-e Kavus was subjected to a forced confession, the video of which was broadcast.
Finally, the General Directorate of Intelligence in Yazd Province announced the arrest of 188 citizens, while the General Directorate of Intelligence in Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari Province reported the arrest of 85 citizens in relation to the protests. Additionally, reports indicate that Mahmoud Heydarian, an art teacher in Bojnord schools who was arrested on January 10 during protests in Ashkhaneh, has recently been transferred to Bojnurd Prison.
UK Sanctions and a Meeting in The Hague
On the 37th day, the UK Foreign Office announced new sanctions against Iran’s Law Enforcement Forces and ten Iranian officials for their role in the violent suppression of protests. The sanctions include asset freezes and travel bans to the United Kingdom. The published details name Eskandar Momeni (Minister of Interior) alongside “several senior law-enforcement, security, and judicial officials.” The measures also target commanders from the police and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, two judges of the Rasht Revolutionary Court, and Babak Zanjani, and bar those sanctioned from holding managerial roles in UK-registered companies.
At the same time, an invitation was issued for a specialized meeting at the Asser Institute in The Hague titled “Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps: Human Rights Violations and International Crimes in Iran and Beyond,” scheduled for Thursday, 5 February 2026, at 19:00. The event description references the Pasdaran Documentation Project (PDP), which aims to systematically map the IRGC’s institutional structure, operational units, and chains of command, and link them to documented cases of grave human rights violations and potential international crimes. According to the announcement, the project’s database contains profiles of more than 4,800 IRGC members and 84,700 units. The speakers are Skylar Thompson (Deputy Director, Human Rights Activists in Iran), Valerie Gabard (Co-Director, UpRights), and Amin Ghazaei (writer and human rights activist). The session will be moderated by Dr. Gabriele Chloëkaite, Senior Researcher in International Criminal Law.
Ongoing Problems in Communications and Postal Services
Disruptions to communications continue to significantly affect daily life and economic activity. According to a published report, Mohammad Ahmadi (Deputy Minister of Communications and CEO of the National Post Company) stated that internet shutdowns and disruptions have caused 730 billion tomans in damage to Iran’s postal service, adding that financial losses from reduced mail traffic have exceeded 7.3 trillion rials. The report emphasizes that internet disruptions have led to a sharp decline in online buying and selling, with the heaviest impact on small, micro, and home-based businesses whose livelihoods depend on online sales and parcel delivery. It also notes that despite partial restoration of access, ongoing instability and restrictions have resulted in a continued over 30% drop in mail traffic.
Elsewhere in the same context, internet services have not returned to normal. Reports indicate that after weeks, internet access is still not available to everyone. Some citizens can only connect to the global internet by paying high costs and using circumvention tools, or by accessing so-called “white internet,” which is limited to select groups. Sattar Hashemi (Minister of Communications) has also confirmed that, both in terms of speed and traffic, Iran’s internet has not returned to normal conditions.
Statistics
- Total protest locations: 666
- Number of cities: 209
- Number of provinces: 31
- Total protesters killed: 6,430
- Including minors: 152
- Military/government-affiliated: 214
- Civilian, non-protesters: 58
- Total confirmed deaths: 6,854
- Cases under investigation: 11,280
- Total arrests: 50,235
- Student arrests: 106
- Forced confessions: 303
- Summonses: 11,046
Summary
The 37th day unfolded amid a surge of statements from various groups, from ophthalmologists to teachers and academic associations, emerging as one of the most significant forms of social response. Alongside condemning the crackdown, these statements emphasized its human consequences and the need for accountability. At the same time, arrests and security measures continued, with named individuals detained and reports of home searches. In some cases, detainees remained in legal limbo, and forced confessions were broadcast. Internationally, new UK sanctions and a specialized meeting in The Hague signaled ongoing political and legal pressure. In public services, persistent communication disruptions not only restricted access for citizens but also caused a sharp decline in mail traffic and substantial losses, severely impacting the postal sector and online businesses.
https://www.en-hrana.org/day-37-of-the-protests-condemnation-by-various-social-groups-of-the-crackdown-and-the-continued-arrests/
(Source: Hrana)
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