Iran protest victim: 'They were shooting to kill'
Victims of a brutal crackdown during public protests in Iran in January 2026 share their experiences of violence by security forces. Despite international condemnation, the subsequent war has largely pushed the plight of these protesters out of the global spotlight.
Why it matters
The report highlights the human rights cost of the Iranian regime's suppression of dissent and the tendency for geopolitical conflicts to overshadow domestic human rights abuses.
DW spoke with several Iranians affected by a brutal crackdown at the hands of the Tehran's security forces during the height of massive public protests in January.
https://p.dw.com/p/5JJqj DW obtained X-ray images showing injuries sustained by protesters at the hands of security forces during protests in Iran Image: Privat Advertisement In January 2026, weeks before the US and Israel launched attacks on Iran, thousands of Iranians risked their lives in the largest and most widespread public uprising the regime in Tehran had ever faced.
The protests began in December 2025 amid grievances over economic hardship , but soon grew in scope and scale.
The regime's security forces, made up of elements from the Ministry of Intelligence, the Basij militia, and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), confronted the protesters on the streets with gunfire and beatings.
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