Kalinga TV – A US-based human rights organization says more than 5,000 people have been killed during the recent wave of protests in Iran, warning that the true death toll is likely far higher due to a prolonged internet shutdown that has hindered documentation efforts.
According to the sources, the Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) said on Friday that it had confirmed the deaths of 5,002 people since protests erupted across the country. According to the group, 4,714 of those killed were protesters, including 42 minors. The toll also includes 207 members of the security forces and 39 bystanders. HRANA said it is still investigating nearly 9,800 additional possible fatalities.
The group also reported that at least 26,852 people have been arrested in connection with the demonstrations.
Iranian authorities released their first official casualty figures earlier this week, stating that 3,117 people were killed. The country’s foundation for martyrs and veterans claimed that 2,427 of the dead were “martyrs,” a term it uses for security personnel and civilians.
HRANA said the government’s figures were an attempt to reinforce its official narrative surrounding the protests and the resulting violence.
Another rights group, Norway-based Iran Human Rights (IHR), said it has documented at least 3,428 protesters killed by security forces and warned that the final death toll could reach as high as 25,000.
The nationwide internet blackout, now in its second week, remains largely in place. Monitoring group Netblocks reported limited connectivity, noting that while some messaging apps and VPN access have partially returned, international internet traffic remains heavily restricted.
Iran Rejects US Claims on Executions
Meanwhile, Iran has denied claims by US President Donald Trump that American pressure halted the execution of hundreds of protesters. The White House said on January 15 that 800 executions scheduled for the previous day had been stopped following US intervention.
Iran’s prosecutor general, Mohammad Movahedi-Azad, rejected the assertion, calling it “completely false” and saying no such executions had been planned.
While no executions of protesters have been officially confirmed, rights groups warn that many detainees face charges that carry the death penalty.
Iran is the world’s second-largest executioner after China, according to human rights organizations. IHR estimates that at least 1,500 people were executed in Iran last year. During the major protest movement between 2022 and 2023, at least 12 protesters were executed.
Since the outbreak of war with Israel in June, Iran has also executed 12 individuals on charges of espionage for Israel, according to IHR.
Rights groups say executions for other crimes, including drug-related offenses and murder, have continued during the protests. HRANA reported that at least 14 prisoners were executed this week alone, though the internet shutdown has made it difficult to confirm details, as many executions are not publicly announced.
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