Artist: Behnam Mohammadi
By Kayhan Life Staff
More than a week ago, the Islamic Republic plunged Iran into digital darkness. Under the cover of this shutdown, the state launched a bloody crackdown. Doctors across the country received threatening phone calls warning them not to treat injured protesters. Hospitals were attacked, and doctors and lawyers were arrested for providing medical or legal assistance.
Human rights organizations report the use of increasingly lethal force against protesters, including military-grade firearms, shotguns, and pellet weapons, and close-range shootings—actions that violate international law and the right to life. The state has refused to release any official figures on arrests or deaths, instead claiming that unarmed protesters are “terrorists.”
Independent sources paint a devastating picture. According to senior government and security officials speaking to Iran International, at least 12,000 people have been killed—the largest killing in Iran’s contemporary history—many during January 8–9 amid the ongoing internet shutdown. On January 10, the Prosecutor General declared all protesters mohareb (enemies of God), a charge punishable by death. On Jan. 14, the head of the judiciary publicly called for swift trials and punishment, emphasizing speed over due process.
Since January 14, IRGC forces, Basij militias, and police have established conditions resembling martial law. Armed patrols now dominate cities nationwide.
Message to the World: This is not theater. It is not a show. It is a crime against humanity unfolding, shrouded by a blackout designed to hide it. Help!
