HRANA – According to the latest aggregated data compiled by HRANA as of the end of the thirty-first day since the start of the protests, the total number of confirmed deaths has reached 6,221. Of these, 5,858 were protesters, 100 were children under the age of 18, 214 were forces affiliated with the government, and 49 were non-protester civilians. The number of deaths still under investigation has been reported as 17,091. The total number of arrests has reached 42,324. The number of severely injured individuals stands at 11,017, and 261 cases of forced confessions being broadcast have been recorded. Additionally, 11,026 people have been summoned to security institutions. The total number of recorded protest-related incidents is 656 across 201 cities in 31 provinces.
The main developments on the thirty-first day since the start of the protests included the continued policy of controlling communications and cracking down on alternative access tools, the continuation of both scattered and mass arrests, the holding of the first court hearing related to the protests in Malard, as well as pressure and threats against medical staff.
Continued Internet Disruptions and Shutdowns; Economic Losses and Security Crackdown on Starlink
Following the aftermath of the protests, the “digital blackout” and severe restrictions on internet access continue to be reported as one of the main axes of controlling and managing the public sphere. NetBlocks data indicate the continuation of a restricted, “whitelist-based” situation; such that even in cases where some networks have become “globally visible,” this does not mean a return to normal internet access, and public connectivity remains blocked or highly unstable. Within this framework, reports have emerged of entering the nineteenth day of a “complete internet shutdown,” alongside the formation of quota-based access mechanisms for certain groups. Among these, holders of commercial cards have reportedly been granted only limited and short-term access (approximately 20 minutes per day) at chambers of commerce and under supervision, a situation that effectively transforms the internet from a public service into a security-administrative privilege.
At the same time, the economic costs of this situation have been highlighted in official statements. According to remarks by the Minister of Communications, the internet shutdown has caused daily losses of hundreds of billions of tomans to the digital economy and several trillion tomans to the national economy. These figures, together with field reports of supply chain disruptions, stalled transactions, and reduced access to basic services, highlight the economic consequences of the communications shutdown policy.
In this regard, the Iranian Writers’ Association issued a statement referring to killings, widespread arrests, and overcrowded prisons, condemning the ongoing crackdown.
Security measures targeting alternative means of internet access have also intensified. Reports indicate the discovery and confiscation of dozens of Starlink devices, explicitly described as “anti-security goods,” demonstrating that information control is not limited to cutting off official networks and that alternative communication routes have also become targets of security policies.
Arrests and Crackdowns; First Court Hearing Related to the Protests in Malard
Aggregated reports from the days following the nationwide protests indicate that the wave of arrests and security crackdowns has continued across various cities, remaining scattered yet widespread. In some cases, the arrest of citizens has been reported in areas such as Zahedan, Torbat-e Jam, and Sabzevar, while in others, arrests have been documented in Gorgan, Dehgolan, Javanrud, Babol, and Lahijan. This geographic spread, alongside the large number of cases, points to the continuation of a pattern of “post-event cleansing” (arrests carried out after street protests subside) aimed at controlling social networks and local environments.
On a broader scale, reports have emerged of the arrest of 224 citizens, the majority of whom were detained in Qazvin. According to these reports, 219 individuals were arrested under the label of “leaders of the protests,” with additional cases reported in Qarchak and Shahroud. Alongside the arrests, there is also evidence of the detention of injured protesters, including reports indicating that some individuals were arrested while their medical treatment had not yet been completed, a pattern of conduct that violates the most fundamental human rights, including the right to medical care.
The holding of the “first court hearing related to the January protests” in Malard is regarded as the starting point of a broad series of trials. In this case, the subject of the court session was announced as the death of a FARJA (Law Enforcement Command) officer, and images from the hearing were also published. Mohammad Abbasi has been introduced as the primary defendant in the case. The conduct of the trial, including statements by the court-appointed lawyer made against the interests of the defendant, has prompted criticism from human rights organizations over the lack of fair trial standards. This case also involves another defendant.
Use of Schools as Suppression Bases; Expanded Security Presence in Public Spaces
Reports also shed light on the tools and spaces used for urban control. Among them is the publication of an image of a school in Arak (Imam Ali School), which is said to have been used as a base for suppressing protesters. The use of educational spaces for the deployment of forces and operational management, in addition to its direct impact on citizens’ safety, has secondary consequences such as fostering social fear, disrupting educational environments, and normalizing a security presence within public institutions.
Alongside these developments, field reports also point to restrictions on mourning practices and pressure on the families of those killed, including preventing the installation of banners and the holding of memorial ceremonies, as well as the removal or destruction of signs of mourning in public spaces. Taken together, these data indicate that the crackdown has not been limited to controlling the streets, but has extended to controlling narratives, collective memory, and even mourning rituals.
Crackdown on Medical Staff and the Arrest of Doctors; Securitizing Healthcare and Humanitarian Aid
Reports indicate that medical staff, particularly doctors and those who treated individuals injured during the protests, have been subjected to pressure and security crackdowns. In one case, Farhad Nadali, a physician at 5 Azar Hospital in Gorgan, was reportedly arrested by IRGC Intelligence for treating individuals injured in the protests and for opposing the deployment of armed forces inside the hospital. It has also been alleged that armed forces fired at protesters from the hospital rooftop, an allegation which, if confirmed, would point to the transformation of medical centers into components of the suppression apparatus.
In another case, the arrest of Babak Pouramin (an emergency medicine specialist) in Neyshabur was reported. He was reportedly arrested on January 19 and transferred to Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad, has had only limited contact with his family, and has been denied access to legal counsel. The same report also states that some doctors have been threatened with accusations such as “helping injured individuals escape from the hospital.”
Additionally, reports point to the arrest of Dr. Ameneh Soleimani in Ardabil and Ali Fakher, a retired nurse in Sirjan, for providing aid to injured protesters; the detention of members of Mr. Fakher’s family has also been mentioned. Taken together, these cases point to a troubling pattern: the securitization of healthcare, the criminalization of humanitarian assistance, and pressure on medical networks as a means of reducing support capacity for the injured and controlling the human consequences of the protests.
Official Statements; Protest-Related Damages in Gilan and the Government Spokesperson’s Position
Official authorities have attempted to focus attention on the damages caused by the protests. Among these, the estimated damages from the “recent incidents” in Gilan Province were announced to exceed 3 trillion tomans, with references to damage and fires affecting parts of Rasht’s bazaar. At the same time, the government spokesperson, Fatemeh Mohajerani, referred to “collective mourning” and the state’s responsibility toward those affected, while also stressing a distinction between “legitimate protesters” and “deviant currents.” Such formulaic statements have repeatedly been used by state institutions to justify their conduct in suppressing protesters.
Updated (Aggregated) Statistics as of the End of the Thirty-First Day Since the Start of the Protests
• Number of recorded gatherings/protests: 656
• Number of cities involved (no duplication): 201
• Number of provinces involved (no duplication): 31
• Total arrests: 42,324
• Broadcasts of forced confessions: 261 cases
• Summonses to security institutions: 11,026 cases
• Severely injured individuals: 11,017
• Confirmed deaths: 6,221
▪️ Protesters: 5,858
▪️ Children (under 18): 100
▪️ Government-affiliated forces: 214
▪️ Non-protesters / civilians: 49
• Deaths under investigation: 17,091
Summary
The thirty-first day since the start of the protests passed amid the continued policy of controlling communications and cracking down on alternative access tools. At the same time, reports pointed to scattered yet widespread arrests, as well as pressure on the injured and their families. The first protest-related court hearing in Malard marks the consolidation of a judicial approach aimed at imposing severe penalties on protesters, drawing warnings from human rights groups regarding fair trial guarantees. Additionally, pressure on medical staff, the arrest of doctors and aid workers, and reports of public spaces such as schools being used as bases for suppression highlight new dimensions of the continued security crackdown in the aftermath of the protests.
