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From the Streets to Universities: Iran’s Protests Enter Their Eleventh Day

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Children, Freedom of Expression, News
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HRANA –The eleventh day of nationwide protests in Iran, on Wednesday, January 7, 2026, unfolded amid heightened security measures and ongoing arrests. Despite these pressures, demonstrations continued across multiple parts of the country. At least 37 cities witnessed protests in the form of street gatherings, protest actions, or labor strikes, spanning 24 provinces, a scale that underscores the sustained nationwide character of the unrest.

At the same time, 10 universities joined the protest movement, highlighting the continued and active role of academic institutions. With the inclusion of data from the eleventh day, a total of 348 protest sites, including 45 universities across 111 cities in 31 provinces, have experienced protests over the past eleven days.

Protests in Iran have now entered their eleventh day. The geographic scope of the recent unrest has made it one of the most widespread protest waves in recent years in terms of spatial distribution.

Background of the Protests

The protests on the eleventh day emerged against a backdrop in which the economic crisis and livelihood instability have gone beyond the stage of warning. Rapidly rising prices, the continuous devaluation of the national currency, and the inability of a large segment of society to meet basic needs have turned economic pressure into a daily reality for millions of citizens. Under such conditions, protest is no longer merely an emotional reaction to an isolated event, but rather a reflection of the long-term erosion of public trust in economic and administrative policies.

On the eleventh day, the simultaneous presence of street protests, active participation by universities, and signs of labor-related discontent demonstrated that the scope of protests has expanded beyond livelihood demands and now reflects deeper dissatisfaction with governance practices, the lack of accountability, and the closure of legal avenues for protest. The persistence of demonstrations, despite widespread arrests and security pressure, indicates that a significant portion of society now views the cost of protest as lower than the cost of silence and inaction.

nationwide protests Day 11

Geographic Scope and Focal Points of the Protests

According to recorded data, protests on the eleventh day took place in 37 cities across 24 provinces. These figures indicate an increase in the number of protesting cities compared to previous days. Provincial dispersion has remained high, reflecting the diffuse nature of the protests rather than their concentration in a few specific locations.

From a cumulative perspective, over the past eleven days, at least 111 cities in 31 provinces have witnessed protests at least once. This breadth demonstrates that the protests are not confined to specific ethnic or economic regions; rather, they have emerged across diverse urban and provincial contexts and continue in a networked and sustained manner.

Cities including Gonabad, Isfahan, Shahrza, Tehran, Shiraz, Falavarjan, Bandar Abbas, Zanjan, Kermanshah, Qazvin, Qom, Bojnord, Semnan, Nishapur, Mashhad, Kerman, Lordegan, Pordanjan, Fasa, Chaboksar, Asaluyeh, Tabriz, Rasht, Karaj, Abadan, Borujen, Urmia, Shahrekord, Gilangharb, Zahedan, Fardis, Astara, Aligudarz, Holeylan, Tonekabon, Chenaran, and Gorgan were among those where protests were reported today.

Universities and the Role of Students

On the eleventh day, 10 universities were reported as active protest sites. With these cases included, the total number of universities that have witnessed protests over the past eleven days has reached 35. The continued presence of universities in this wave of protests highlights the persistence of student discontent and the role of universities as spaces for the production and reproduction of protest.

Alongside their sectoral and educational demands, students have increasingly reacted to broader economic and political issues. This trend has strengthened the connection between campus-based and street protests, preventing the isolation of dissent within a single sphere.

Forms of Protest and Slogans

On the eleventh day of protests, methods of protest action remained diverse. Street gatherings, protest presence in urban centers, and protest activities within universities were among the main forms of expression. This diversity indicates that, despite security pressure, the protests have not been confined to a single, easily controllable pattern and continue to reproduce themselves in various forms.

The slogans and messages voiced during the gatherings continued to combine livelihood demands with structural criticism. Rising prices, declining purchasing power, and economic pressure formed the core of many slogans, alongside chants criticizing inefficiency, the lack of responsiveness to public demands, and the overall state of governance. This simultaneity suggests that, in the minds of protesters, the economic crisis and the governance crisis are understood as two facets of a single issue.

Arrests and Intensification of Security Measures

The eleventh day of protests was accompanied by the continuation and consolidation of the authorities’ security-oriented approach. According to aggregated data, a total of 2,217 people have been arrested or identified over the past eleven days. Of these, 558 were individual arrests, while 1,659 were recorded as group arrests or cases without confirmed identities, an approach that reflects security forces’ efforts to exert on-the-ground control through large-scale operations with limited transparency.

On the eleventh day alone, at least 140 people were arrested or identified. Although this figure represents a decrease compared to the tenth day, it still reflects a high level of security intervention and indicates that, despite a relative stabilization in the number of gatherings, the policy of preemptive suppression of protesters continues.

Reports indicate that some of these arrests were carried out not only at protest sites but also through summonses, on-the-ground identification, and follow-up actions, an approach aimed not merely at dispersing gatherings, but at exerting psychological pressure and long-term deterrence.

Arrests of Children, Adolescents, and Students

One of the most concerning features of the current wave of protests is the substantial number of individuals under the age of 18 among those arrested. According to recorded data, 165 detainees over the past eleven days were minors. This figure underscores both the active participation of adolescents and school students in the protests and the intensity of the security forces’ crackdown on this age group.

In addition, 46 students have been arrested during the eleven days of protests. The simultaneous arrest of students alongside the continuation of campus protests indicates that universities remain among the most sensitive centers of dissent and continue to be closely monitored and pressured by security institutions.

Alongside these cases, 40 televised confessions by detained protesters have been broadcast so far. Human rights observers view the continued airing of these confessions, typically recorded under detention and without free access to legal counsel, as a tool for instilling public fear and legitimizing the suppression of protests.

Fatalities and Victims of the Protests

Based on available data, 38 people have lost their lives over the eleven days of protests. This figure includes:

• 29 protesting civilians
• 4 law enforcement-security personnel
• 5 protesters under the age of 18

The presence of children among those killed once again raises serious concerns about the manner in which security forces have responded to the protests and whether the principle of proportionality in the use of force has been observed.

In addition to the fatalities, numerous reports have emerged of citizens being injured during street clashes and security operations. However, due to limited access to field information, the exact number of injured individuals is still being compiled.

Summonses and Security Pressure Beyond the Streets

On the eleventh day, security pressure was not limited to the streets. Reports indicate that a number of citizens were summoned to security institutions. Among them was Keyumars Amiri Kolehjoei, known as Lak-Amir, a Lak poet and journalist from Kermanshah province, who was summoned to security bodies on that day.

Such summonses, often carried out without formally announcing charges, are considered part of a strategy of covert pressure aimed at containing influential cultural, media, and social voices. The objective of this approach is seen as limiting independent narratives of the protests and constraining the space for free reporting and expression.

Internet Disruptions and Communication Restrictions

As protests continued on the eleventh day, reports emerged of internet disruptions in several Iranian cities. These disruptions were mainly reported in the form of reduced speeds, unstable connections, and temporary interruptions in access to online services.

An examination of the pattern of these restrictions indicates that internet disruptions were implemented in a targeted and localized manner, often occurring in cities that witnessed protest gatherings or university activities. This approach has also been observed during previous waves of protests and is typically employed to limit coordination, information-sharing, and the dissemination of protest footage.

Nevertheless, the continued flow of news and the publication of reports from inside the country suggest that, despite causing disruptions, these restrictions have not been able to completely halt the circulation of information.

Reactions

Domestic Reactions (Governmental)

Following statements by Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu regarding the protests in Iran, the Secretariat of the Supreme Defense Council of the Islamic Republic issued a statement describing the rhetoric and threats as “beyond mere verbal positioning” and characterizing them as part of “hostile behavior.” The statement emphasized that any aggression or continuation of hostile actions would be met with a “proportionate, decisive, and determining response,” placing responsibility for the consequences on those designing and issuing the threats. In this context, officials also sought to elevate the issue from the level of “political commentary” to that of a “security cost,” highlighting regional consequences in an effort to send a deterrent message.

At the same time, following the positions taken by Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu and the release of the statement by the Supreme Defense Council Secretariat, some figures close to the official power structure adopted even harsher rhetoric. Among them:

Ali Larijani, in a message, condemned what he described as U.S. interference in an “internal matter” and issued warnings, in a threatening tone, about the consequences of adventurism.

Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf explicitly spoke of “threatening American centers and forces” in the region and sought to convey the message that any action or escalation of intervention would be met with a “response.”

Such positions may indicate an attempt by the authorities to reframe the protests from a socio-economic crisis into a national security issue—shifting the narrative focus from “street demands” to a “confrontation with foreign intervention.”

Domestic Reactions (Civil, Labor, and Public Figures)

On the other hand, reactions were not limited to politicians and security officials. According to reports, associations in the field of visual arts, including organizations of painters, graphic designers, photographers, sculptors, and ceramic artists, issued a joint statement condemning the suppression of protests. Referring to economic and political pressures and widespread social despair, the statement emphasized that “any violence and repression against the people’s right to protest” is condemned.

Additionally, 555 teacher union activists issued a similar letter declaring their solidarity with the protesters and their demands.

The significance of these reactions on the eleventh day lies in the fact that they demonstrate how professional and cultural sectors are increasingly aligning themselves with the protest narrative.

After several days of silence, Amirhossein Ghiasi (blogger and media figure) issued a clear statement declaring that he, too, is a protester. He described his silence as the result of psychological pressure, family concerns, and an inability to express what he described as what was “in his heart.” The entry of public figures into explicit positions is considered, from a newsworthiness perspective, an important indicator for measuring the expansion of social sympathy with the protests.

Arrests

Individual Arrests with Confirmed Identities

  1. 1. Shahab Barati – Place of arrest: Mashhad (Razavi Khorasan province) – Place of detention: Unknown – Current status: Detained – Source: HRANA

  2. 2. Davoud Hosseinpour – Place of arrest: Lordegan (Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province) – Place of detention: Unknown – Current status: Detained – Source: HRANA

  3. 3. Rouhollah Khaledi – Place of arrest: Lordegan (Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province) – Place of detention: Unknown – Current status: Detained – Source: HRANA

  4. 4. Abolfazl Aghaei – Place of arrest: Khorramabad (Lorestan province) – Place of detention: Unknown – Current status: Detained – Source: HRANA. Notable point: Under 18 years old

  5. 5. Ara Salahi – Place of arrest: Rasht (Gilan province) – Place of detention: Unknown – Current status: Detained – Source: HRANA

  6. 6. Mikaeil Mansouri – Place of arrest: Yasuj (Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad province) – Place of detention: Unknown – Current status: Detained – Source: HRANA

  7. 7. Sara Rahmati – Place of arrest: Yasuj – Place of detention: Unknown – Current status: Detained – Source: HRANA

  8. 8. Shayan Parmokhber – Place of arrest: Yasuj – Place of detention: Unknown – Current status: Detained – Source: HRANA

  9. 9. Elaheh Hosseinnejad – Place of arrest: Yasuj – Place of detention: Unknown – Current status: Detained – Source: HRANA

  10. 10. Omid Khodarahmi – Place of arrest: Yasuj – Place of detention: Unknown – Current status: Detained – Source: HRANA

  11. 11. Ashkan Rasouli – Place of arrest: Yasuj – Place of detention: Unknown – Current status: Detained – Source: HRANA

  12. 12. Meraj Abbasnejad – Place of arrest: Yasuj – Place of detention: Unknown – Current status: Detained – Source: HRANA

  13. 13. Ali Akbar Ahmadzadeh – Place of arrest: Yasuj – Place of detention: Unknown – Current status: Detained – Source: HRANA

  14. 14. Peyman Azarzadeh – Place of arrest: Yasuj – Place of detention: Unknown – Current status: Detained – Source: HRANA

  15. 15. Mani Armaghanizadeh – Place of arrest: Yasuj – Place of detention: Unknown – Current status: Detained – Source: HRANA

  16. 16. Hossein Haghighi – Place of arrest: Yasuj – Place of detention: Unknown – Current status: Detained – Source: HRANA

  17. 17. Moslem Parzadar – Place of arrest: Yasuj – Place of detention: Unknown – Current status: Detained – Source: HRANA

  18. 18. Ahmad Abdollahpour – Place of arrest: Yasuj – Place of detention: Unknown – Current status: Detained – Source: HRANA

  19. 19. Parsa Akbar – Place of arrest: Yasuj – Place of detention: Unknown – Current status: Detained – Source: HRANA

  20. 20. Kiarash Ansari – Place of arrest: Yasuj – Place of detention: Unknown – Current status: Detained – Source: HRANA

  21. 21. Shahla Ansarian – Place of arrest: Yasuj – Place of detention: Unknown – Current status: Detained – Source: HRANA

  22. 22. Elham Siavoshi – Place of arrest: Yasuj – Place of detention: Unknown – Current status: Detained – Source: HRANA

  23. 23. Razieh Khahesh – Place of arrest: Yasuj – Place of detention: Unknown – Current status: Detained – Source: HRANA

  24. 24. Reza Mansourian – Place of arrest: Behbahan (Khuzestan province) – Current status: Released – Source: HRANA

  25. 25. Hossein Afrasiabi – Place of arrest: Behbahan – Current status: Released – Source: HRANA

  26. 26. Ali Alinejad – Place of arrest: Behbahan – Current status: Released – Source: HRANA

  27. 27. Ahmad Akhash – Place of arrest: Behbahan – Current status: Released – Source: HRANA

  28. 28. Abbas Ahmadi – Place of arrest: Behbahan – Current status: Released – Source: HRANA

  29. 29. Abolfazl Ahmadi – Place of arrest: Behbahan – Current status: Released – Source: HRANA

  30. 30. Abolfazl Tayebi – Place of arrest: Behbahan – Current status: Released – Source: HRANA

  31. 31. Abolfazl Safari – Place of arrest: Behbahan – Current status: Released – Source: HRANA

  32. 32. Maziar Karami – Place of arrest: Behbahan – Current status: Released – Source: HRANA

  33. 33. Ali Afrasiabi – Place of arrest: Behbahan – Place of detention: Unknown – Current status: Detained – Source: HRANA

  34. 34. Parsa Ghasemi – Place of arrest: Behbahan – Place of detention: Unknown – Current status: Detained – Source: HRANA

  35. 35. Majid Zamenpisheh – Place of arrest: Behbahan – Place of detention: Unknown – Current status: Detained – Source: HRANA

  36. 36. Mohammad Shokri – Place of arrest: Behbahan – Place of detention: Unknown – Current status: Detained – Source: HRANA

  37. 37. Unidentified individual – Place of arrest: Baharestan (Tehran province) – Place of detention: Unknown – Current status: Detained – Source: Iran International

  1. 38. Hamid Rahmati – Place of arrest: Tehran – Place of detention: Randan, Shahrza – Current status: Detained – Source: Coordination Council of Iranian Teachers’ Trade Associations. Notable point: Teacher

  1. 39. Abolfazl Rahimi-Shad – Place of arrest: Tehran – Place of detention: Unknown – Current status: Detained – Source: Coordination Council of Iranian Teachers’ Trade Associations. Notable point: Teacher

  1. 40. Milad Kakavand – Place of arrest: Tehran – Place of detention: Unknown – Current status: Detained – Source: Amir Kabir Newsletter. Notable point: Student

  1. 41. Javad Pashaei – Place of arrest: Unknown – Place of detention: Unknown – Current status: Detained – Source: Kurdpa

  2. 42. Reza Nazarali – Place of arrest: Unknown – Place of detention: Unknown – Current status: Detained – Source: Kurdpa

  3. 43. Unidentified individual – Place of arrest: Najafabad (Isfahan province) – Place of detention: Unknown – Current status: Detained – Source: Fars News Agency. Notable point: Forced confessions broadcast

  1. 44. Raham Darvishi – Place of arrest: Aligudarz (Lorestan province) – Place of detention: Unknown – Current status: Detained – Source: Coordination Council of Iranian Teachers’ Trade Associations. Notable point: Under 18

  1. 45. Benyamin Mousavi – Place of arrest: Izeh (Khuzestan province) – Place of detention: Unknown – Current status: Detained – Source: Coordination Council of Iranian Teachers’ Trade Associations. Notable point: Under 18

  1. 46. Mojtaba Jouyi – Place of arrest: Shushtar – Place of detention: Unknown – Current status: Detained – Source: Coordination Council of Iranian Teachers’ Trade Associations. Notable point: Under 18

  1. 47. Mahan Soleimani – Place of arrest: Shushtar – Place of detention: Unknown – Current status: Detained – Source: Coordination Council of Iranian Teachers’ Trade Associations. Notable point: Under 18

  1. 48. Mohammad Mehdi Yeganeh – Place of arrest: Tehran – Place of detention: Transferred to Qezel Hesar Prison, Karaj – Current status: Detained – Source: Coordination Council of Iranian Teachers’ Trade Associations. Notable point: Under 18

  1. 49. Amirsam Houshyar – Place of arrest: Tehran – Place of detention: Unknown – Current status: Detained – Source: Coordination Council of Iranian Teachers’ Trade Associations

  2. 50. Sonia Zolfaghari – Place of arrest: Bojnord (North Khorasan province) – Place of detention: Unknown – Current status: Detained – Source: Coordination Council of Iranian Teachers’ Trade Associations

  3. 51. Ebrahim Baba-Ahmadi – Place of arrest: Shushtar – Place of detention: Unknown – Current status: Detained – Source: Coordination Council of Iranian Teachers’ Trade Associations

  4. 52. Foad Nikpey – Place of arrest: Marivan (Kurdistan province) – Place of detention: Unknown – Current status: Detained – Source: Coordination Council of Iranian Teachers’ Trade Associations. Notable point: Under 18

  1. 53. Saman Nikpendar – Place of arrest: Sabzevar (Razavi Khorasan province) – Place of detention: Unknown – Current status: Detained – Source: Coordination Council of Iranian Teachers’ Trade Associations. Notable point: Under 18

  1. 54. Raman Eghbali – Place of arrest: Sanandaj (Kurdistan province) – Place of detention: Unknown – Current status: Detained – Source: Coordination Council of Iranian Teachers’ Trade Associations. Notable point: Under 18

  1. 55. Alireza Besatzadeh – Place of arrest: Sarpol-e Zahab (Kermanshah province) – Place of detention: Unknown – Current status: Detained – Source: Kolbar News

  2. 56. Amirreza Soleimani – Place of arrest: Tehran – Place of detention: Unknown – Current status: Detained – Source: Kolbar News. Notable point: Under 18

Group Arrests or Arrests Without Identity Confirmation

  1. 1. 60 citizens – Place of arrest: Varamin (Tehran province) – Place of detention: Unknown – Current status: Detained

  2. 2. Four citizens – Place of arrest: Galikesh (Golestan province) – Place of detention: Unknown – Current status: Detained

  3. 3. Ten citizens – Place of arrest: Unknown – Place of detention: Unknown – Current status: Released

  4. 4. Three citizens – Province of arrest: Fars – Place of detention: Unknown – Current status: Released. Notable point: Under 18 years of age

  5. 5. Two citizens – Place of arrest: Baharestan (Tehran province) – Place of detention: Unknown – Current status: Detained. Notable point: Forced confessions broadcast

Conclusion

The eleventh day of nationwide protests can be described as a day marked by the continuation of demonstrations alongside the consolidation of repression. Although the number of protesting cities has declined compared to some peak days, the wide provincial dispersion, the continued presence of universities, the high number of arrests, and the ongoing security summonses indicate that the protests have entered a phase that is attritional yet sustained.

The combination of economic crisis, livelihood pressure, widespread security crackdowns, and communication restrictions does not point to an imminent de-escalation of the protests. In this context, the unrest is continuing not in an explosive manner, but as a prolonged and multilayered condition—one whose consequences will be felt beyond the streets, across social, cultural, and political spheres.

Detailed Report on the Sixth Day of Protests: Violence by Security Forces and an Increase in the Arrest of Protesters

Protests and strikes by shopkeepers and citizens in various cities across Iran entered their sixth day today. Over the past six days, at least 113 locations across the country, in 46 cities spanning 22 provinces, have witnessed protests. During these protests, dozens of people were arrested and at least eight protesters lost their lives.
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Freedom of Expression, Labor and Guilds, News
Amir Nodehi, Dariush Ansari Bakhtiarvand, Esfarayen, Fardis, Fooladshahr, Fuladshahr, Gohardasht, Hafshejan, Hamedan, HRANA, irgc, Izeh, Joneqan, Khodadad Shirvani, Kuhdasht, Mahan Khoobani, Marvdasht, Mashhad, Misagh Kooch Peydeh, Narmak, Neyshabur, Parand, Qazvin, Qom, Sabzevar, Tehran, Tehran’s Grand Bazaar, Yasuj, Zahedan

HRANA – Protests and strikes by shopkeepers and citizens in various cities across Iran entered their sixth day today. Over the past six days, at least 113 locations across the country, in 46 cities spanning 22 provinces, have witnessed protests. During these protests, dozens of people were arrested and at least eight protesters lost their lives.

The widespread protests that began on Monday, December 29, with gatherings and strikes by bazaar merchants in Tehran continued today, Friday, January 2, for a sixth consecutive day. The protests have been accompanied in some cities by an intensified security presence, violence, and arrests of citizens. Demonstrations persisted in cities including Neyshabur, Sabzevar, Esfarayen, Mashhad, Hamedan, Fardis, Gohardasht, Khorramabad, Qazvin, Tehran, Fuladshahr, Zahedan, Marvdasht, Parand, Hafshejan, Joneqan, Yasuj, and Qom. Reports were also published today indicating the use of violence by security and law enforcement forces. As protests continued, the scope of arrests expanded, with reports collected of dozens of protesting citizens being detained.

Background to the Protests

The new wave of protests has emerged amid unprecedented economic pressure on various segments of society, alongside simultaneous signs of structural erosion in the country’s livelihood system. The rapid rise in foreign currency prices, chronic market instability, and the continued devaluation of the national currency have made the economic outlook extremely uncertain for citizens and trade activists.

In the days leading up to the protests, the exchange rate surpassed 140,000 tomans, while the capital market experienced a significant outflow of capital and declines in indices. According to analysts, these developments reflect a large-scale shift of capital toward lower-risk assets such as foreign currency and gold, and signal declining public confidence in economic policies. The direct consequences have included the closure or partial shutdown of trade units, the inability of small businesses to continue operating, and the expansion of protests and strikes in cities across the country.

Geography of the Protests

Based on collected information, gatherings and protests on the sixth day were reported in 17 cities across 13 provinces. Protests continued in cities including Sabzevar, Esfarayen, Neyshabur, Mashhad, Hafshejan, Joneqan, Hamedan, Fardis, Tehran, Parand, Gohardasht, Zahedan, Marvdasht, Fooladshahr, Yasuj, Qazvin, and Qom.

In Zahedan, protesting citizens took to the streets after Friday prayers and chanted protest slogans. These gatherings mainly took place on University Street and Khayyam Street.

Marvdasht also witnessed protest gatherings today. In the morning, during the burial ceremony of one of those killed in the protests, citizens chanted protest slogans, and several hours later, protest gatherings formed on Enghelab Street in the city.

Meanwhile, a video from the burial ceremony of Dariush Ansari Bakhtiarvand in Fuladshahr has been published, showing a large turnout of citizens. This protesting citizen was shot by law enforcement–security forces on Wednesday evening, December 31, after participating in popular protests, and lost his life.

According to verified reports up to the time of publication, a total of 113 protests have been recorded over the past six days in 46 cities across 22 provinces. Fifteen student gatherings at 13 universities are also included in this figure.

Protest distribution day 6

Methods of Protest and Slogans

Based on reviews of videos and verified reports, the slogans chanted were largely centered on livelihood, economic, and political demands rooted in citizens’ fundamental rights. These slogans included criticism of the power structure, objections to restrictions on individual and social freedoms, demands for justice, and opposition to the prevailing economic and living conditions.

At the same time, in some gatherings, slogans with more diverse themes were also heard, reflecting the heterogeneous range of views and tendencies among protesters. Within the framework of its human rights mission, HRANA focuses its reporting on slogans and demands that are directly related to violations of, or demands for, human rights, fundamental freedoms, and civil rights.

On the sixth day of protests, scenes of dissent extended to cemeteries, where citizens chanted protest slogans during the burial ceremonies of two individuals killed in the protests. In the streets as well, protesting citizens held gatherings while chanting slogans.

The persistence and repetition of these slogans across different cities indicate an overlap between labor, livelihood, and political demands within the context of the ongoing protests, and reflect the depth of accumulated grievances in Iranian society.

Conduct of Law Enforcement-Security Forces and Details of Violence

On the sixth day of widespread protests across various Iranian cities, reports and videos indicated the continued securitized atmosphere and the use of repressive measures by law enforcement and security forces to prevent the formation and spread of protest gatherings. In one such case, a video from the city of Qom showed agents using tear gas to disperse citizens. Hours later, another video from the same city was published in which a citizen is seen holding a cartridge casing attributed to a pellet gun used by anti-riot forces, stating that it belonged to pellet “No. 5.”

In Tehran, a video from protests in the Narmak neighborhood shows anti-riot forces using violence in an attempt to arrest a female protester. Field reports also indicate that today, Friday, security forces used violence to arrest a number of protesters during demonstrations in Zahedan.

Continuing acts of violence included the killing of Khodadad Shirvani, a resident of Marvdasht, who was shot by security forces yesterday after participating in popular protests and lost his life. His burial ceremony was held today, Friday, with a large turnout of citizens, during which attendees chanted protest slogans.

At the same time, a protest gathering in Yasuj was also met with suppression by law enforcement and security forces. According to a video published by BBC Persian, agents used tear gas to disperse protesters, and the sound of gunfire can also be heard in the footage. Reports have also emerged of the use of tear gas during nighttime protests in Fardis and Khorramabad.

In the cities of Hafshejan and Joneqan, protest gatherings were likewise accompanied by the presence of law enforcement forces. Mehr News Agency reported that “law enforcement officers, by being present at the scene, took action to manage the gathering.”

Additionally, a video published from protests in Kuhdasht, dating back to Wednesday, December 31, shows a protesting citizen who was seriously injured in the right leg, with those present attempting to stop the bleeding.

It has also been reported that during the nighttime protests on January 1 in Marvdasht, Fars Province, a passing vehicle was targeted by gunfire from security forces. According to the published video, a Pride car entering a main boulevard from a side street, an area filled with anti-riot forces and vehicles, was shot at close range and without prior warning by one of the agents. After the shooting, another agent intervened and instructed the driver to leave the area.

Finally, channels close to security institutions reported today the death of a Basij member during the recent protests in the city of Harsin. The individual was identified as Ali Azizi.

Arrests and Security Pressures

Today, HRANA received reports regarding the transfer of 15 detained women to Evin Prison. These women, who were arrested during the recent protests, are reportedly mostly injured and were therefore transferred to the prison infirmary upon arrival. Their identities are still under investigation.

According to additional information received, Fardin Moslemi and Mahan Khoobani, both 16 years old, were arrested by security forces in the cities of Gachsaran and Yasuj and transferred to an unknown location. Fardin Moslemi was arrested in the early hours of today, Friday, January 2, by IRGC Intelligence forces in Gachsaran, while Mahan Khoobani was arrested yesterday in Yasuj.

HRANA has also learned that Misagh Kooch Peydeh and Amir Nodehi, residents of Tehran, as well as Salman Ghodrati, a resident of Bojnord, have been arrested. According to this report, Messrs. Nodehi and Ghodrati were arrested yesterday, Thursday, by security forces.

Meanwhile, the Public and Revolutionary Prosecutor of Izeh announced the arrest of a number of citizens during last night’s protests in the city. Published reports also indicate that today, Friday, security agents arrested at least five individuals during protests by citizens in Zahedan.

In addition, reports have been received of the arrest of at least 16 citizens in the cities of Tehran, Kermanshah, and Ilam. The identities of these individuals have been reported as: Iman Ali-Moradi, Ali Najafi, Mohammad Hasanvand, Bijan Karimian, Mohammad Javad Zarei, Akbar Darvishi, Aref Darvishi, Mohammad Havasi, Sepehr Salehi, Amir Raoufi, Ehsan Maleki, Milad Kiadi, Farzad Shokri, Abolfazl Shadfar, Moein Maleki, and Yazdan Bakhti. These arrests took place on December 31 and January 1.

The chief justices of Lorestan and Isfahan provinces also announced that a number of protesting citizens were arrested in recent days in the counties of Azna, Delfan, and Isfahan.

In the same context, a channel close to security institutions published two separate videos of forced confessions by a detained citizen in Amol. In these videos, whose recording conditions are unclear, a young man with a fully visible face expresses remorse for publishing calls for protests. The same channel also released a video of the arrest of a citizen on January 2 in Khorramabad, claiming that weapons and ammunition were discovered in his possession. According to the report, this arrest was carried out by agents of the Abolfazl Corps of the IRGC in Lorestan Province.

State broadcaster IRIB also released videos containing forced confessions of several citizens, announcing their arrest during protests in Kermanshah. At least four citizens can be seen in these videos. Mehr News Agency likewise published a video of a forced confession by a citizen arrested yesterday on Motahhari Street in Khorramabad; the circumstances under which these videos were recorded remain unknown.

Subsequently, the Public and Revolutionary Prosecutor of Izeh once again announced the arrest of a number of citizens during last night’s protests in the city.

Meanwhile, Tasnim News Agency reported that several protesters were arrested during demonstrations in Qazvin on charges described as belonging to “saboteur elements.” According to the agency, one individual allegedly involved in publishing protest calls online was also arrested.

HRANA has also learned that on December 31 and January 1, a number of citizens in Gorgan were arrested for publishing calls for protests.

The Public and Revolutionary Prosecutor of Hamedan also announced today the arrest of several citizens during protests in the city, without providing details regarding their identities or the exact timing of their arrests.

Ashraf Montazeri, daughter of Ayatollah Montazeri, stated that her daughter and grandchild were arrested during street protests and released after one day on bail.

Fars News Agency also reported the arrest of a citizen in Isfahan, claiming that he “intended to join the gathering with a handgun and carry out anti-security and sabotage actions.” According to the outlet, the arrest took place on Thursday, January 1.

Additionally, media outlets close to security institutions, without naming individuals, reported the arrest of three citizens, including a teenager, in the cities of Isfahan, Khorramabad, and Amol during the ongoing protests.

In the final hours of today, the Public Relations Office of the Rouhollah Corps of the IRGC in Markazi Province announced the arrest of the administrators of two Telegram channels in the cities of Saveh and Arak, claiming that these channels played a role in the “management and direction of protesters.”

Meanwhile, Amirkabir Newsletter reported that Amirhossein Keshavarz, a student activist, was arrested by security forces. According to the report, agents went to his residence today, arrested him, and transferred him to an unknown location.

Reactions

As nationwide protests entered their sixth day, officials of the Islamic Republic and media outlets affiliated with official and security institutions, alongside continued on-the-ground repression, have sought to reinforce a dominant narrative centered on “foreign interference” and “national security,” while sidelining protesters’ demands.

At the political level, Abbas Araghchi, Iran’s foreign minister, reacting to support expressed by Donald Trump for protesters, described the stance as “irresponsible and dangerous,” claiming that such statements target Iran’s sovereignty and that the Islamic Republic’s armed forces are “ready to respond.” At the same time, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, the Speaker of Parliament, and Alireza Salimi, a member of the parliamentary presidium, issued threatening warnings that any “foreign interference” would be met with a “regret-inducing” response.

In this context, Iran’s Supreme National Security Council sent a letter to domestic media outlets, urging them to condemn Trump’s support for protesters and, by drawing a “clear line with the enemy,” refrain from what it described as “raw, emotional, or tension-inducing dissemination.” The council also praised media outlets that it said had “contributed to stability,” reflecting intensified control and guidance of the media narrative on the sixth day of protests.

In the judicial and security sphere, officials such as Saeed Shahvarai, Chief Justice of Lorestan Province, announced the arrest of protesters in cities including Azna and Delfan, without providing transparent details regarding charges or judicial procedures. At the same time, some pro-government religious figures, including Hossein Nouri Hamedani, while implicitly acknowledging economic pressures, sought to reduce the roots of the crisis to “mismanagement” and avoided linking the protests to the political structure.

At the international level, Volker Türk, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, expressed concern over developments in Iran, stating that reports of violence against protesters are being followed “closely,” and called on Iranian authorities to respect citizens’ fundamental rights, including freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, and association. This position was expressed amid numerous reports of shootings, arrests, and an intense security atmosphere across various Iranian cities.

State-affiliated media, in their coverage of the sixth day, focused on emphasizing external threats, warning the United States and Israel, and promoting the narrative that protests are being directed by “hostile groups”—a narrative that does not align with field evidence or the breadth of protesters’ demands.

Conclusion

The ongoing protests, which began in Tehran’s Grand Bazaar, entered their sixth day with expanded geographic scope, increased public participation, and an intensified presence of security forces. The combination of livelihood and political demands, the rise in arrests, and officials’ efforts to simultaneously contain the crisis through economic and security measures reflect the authorities’ high sensitivity to the continuation of these protests.

HRANA continues to collect, verify, and complete information related to these protests and will publish supplementary reports should the gatherings persist or expand.

Arsham Rezaei Sentenced to Flogging and a Fine on Appeal

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News, Prisoners
Arsham Rezaei, Arsham Rezaie, Evin Prison, Fardis, flogging, Iman Afshari, Jamal al-Din Yassini, Karaj

Branch 41 of the Tehran Court of Appeals has upheld the sentence of 50 lashes and a monetary fine against Arsham Rezaei, a political prisoner in Evin Prison. The charges stem from a case initiated during his imprisonment.

Rezaei’s mother announced that Judge Seyed Jamal al-Din Yassini of Branch 41 confirmed her son’s conviction, which includes both the flogging and a fine of 16 million tomans. Another prisoner had accused Rezaei of insulting him and issuing death threats, which led to this case during his time in prison.

IRGC Intelligence agents arrested Arsham (Mahmoud) Rezaei at his home in Fardis, Karaj, on October 17, 2023, before transferring him to Evin Prison. His trial took place on December 25, 2023, where Judge Iman Afshari of Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court sentenced him to 15 years in prison, alongside a 15-million-toman fine and other penalties.

Rezaei has a history of imprisonment due to his activism.

Flogging is considered a violation of human dignity, and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights prohibits inhumane and degrading punishments. However, Iran continues to enforce such sentences despite widespread domestic and international criticism.

Nationwide Protests in Iran Continues on Day Nine

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Freedom of Expression, News
Amol, Babol, Fardis, Fuman, Isfahan, Karaj, Mahsa Amini, Nowshahr, Qaen, Sabzevar, Sanandaj, Shahin-Shahr, Shahr-e-Rey, Shiraz, Tabriz, Tehran, Zahedan

On September 25, the nationwide protests continued nine days after the death of Mahsa Amini. Demonstrations continued in at least 19 cities and universities, as the number of arrests and the individuals injured or killed increased. There were disruptions and outages in internet and phone services and social media was filtered. 

On September 24,25, 2022, despite the heavy presence of riot police and plainclothes security agents, people held demonstrations in many cities, including Shahin-Shahr, Karaj, Shiraz, Amol, Babol, Sanandaj, Tehran, Fardis, Isfahan, Tabriz, Zahedan, Fuman, Sabzevar, Qaen, Shahr-e-Rey, and Nowshahr. 

The Sharif University of Technology and the University of Tehran students held protests on campus, chanting slogans  such as “Death to the dictator”, “Jailed student should be freed”, and “We will fight, we will die, but we will take back Iran.”

The two maps below show the geographical distribution and concentrations of the protests until the seventh day of protests. 

On September 25, the Coordination Council of the Iranian Teachers Trade Association issued a statement asking teachers and students all over Iran to join the general strike.

 It is estimated that many individuals have been arrested, as 450 arrests were reported only in the city of Sari. However, HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, is still working on fact-checking and reviewing the reports independently. HRANA has identified and verified 48 individuals arrested so far.

There were also reports of several individuals killed as a result of the brutality of the security apparatus. The Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting reported 41 deaths, of which HRANA has identified 38.

The map below shows the distribution of the death toll as of the seventh day of protests.

Below is a compilation of the videos gathered on the eighth and ninth days of protests in Iran.

A Daily Overview of Human Rights Violations in Iran for January 12, 2019

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Other
Aghil Ebrahimi, Ahmad Taghavi, Ali Gholami, azerbaijani turkic ethnic minority rights activist, Cleric, Faezeh Hashemi, Fardis, Hassan Rasouli, Hedayat Mohammadi, Kiumars Marzban, Kulbar, Lawyer, Masoud Kurdpour, Masoud Shamsnejad, Mehrorang Ghaedi, Mostafa Daneshjou, Reza Malek, Seyed Hassan Agha Miri

The following is an overview of human rights violations in Iran on January 12th, 2019 based on the information compiled and verified by Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA).

(1) Seyed Hassan Agha Miri, an Iranian cleric, was sentenced to defrocking and two years of suspended imprisonment because of his interviews and speeches in the governmental media.

(2) Reza Malek, a political prisoner in the Evin prison, has been denied medical care for his severe backache. He was sentenced to five years imprisonment for ‘disrupting the public mind’,’insulting the Supreme Leader’,and ‘propaganda against the state’.

(3) Three Kulbars (Kurdish back carriers) have been shot by the border patrol in Urmia and Baneh. Aghil Ebrahimi, Hassan Rasouli, and Hedayat Mohammadi were injured in this incident.

(4) In the past couple of days, a resident of Kamyaran and two residents of Oshnavieh who were arrested earlier, were released on bail. Two other residents of Sarvabad county and one resident of Sanandaj were arrested.

(5) An Azerbaijani minority rights activist, Ali Gholami, was summoned to the Revolutionary Court in Ardabil. He is a writer and poet who was arrested in the International Mother Language Day protest in 2018.

(6) In the past three years, 20 nurses have died because of overwork. Last week, a 24-year-old nurse died due to working long hours in the Fars province. Shortage of nurses in Iran impacts patient care and nurses’ health.

(7) The attorney of Kiyumars Marzban, author and satirist, confirmed that his case was sent to the Branch 15 of the Revolutionary Court. He was arrested on August 26th. His charges are ‘propaganda against the state’ and ‘sulting the sacred’.

(8) Ahmad Taghavi, a retired teacher and a union activist, was released on bail today. He was arrested on December 24 for an unknown reason.

(9) A chemistry professor, Mehrorang Ghaedi, was exonerated of charges in Yasuj. The judge added that criticizing Iranian authorities would not be considered as ‘propaganda against the state’.

(10) Masoud Shamsnejad, a lawyer and professor, was arrested and has been transferred to the Intelligence Office while the security guards raided his home and confiscated his belongings. He was under pressure for the cases he accepted to defend.

(11) Masoud Kurdpour is a civil right activist who had been a teacher for 22 years and was laid off for his activism-related charges in 2009. He was exonerated by the appeal court but he is still banned from his profession. He has requested the president to help in his case.

(12) In a bus rollover in Gilan, 14 industrial workers were injured. Also, four workers died or were injured in Yazd, Tehran, and Zanjan because of negligence in the oversight of safety conditions.

(13) The workers of Haft Tappeh Sugarcane Mill, Mas Home Appliance, and bankrupt Rasht Parsan Company have at least two months of unpaid wages.

(14) Mostafa Daneshjou, the detained lawyer of the Gonabadi Dervishes, was denied medical care for his severe heart disease. He was sentenced to eight years in prison on December 16, 2018.

(15) The prosecutor of Fardis published a video of a man was saved from execution and wrote ” Telegram saved him from gallows.” He was accused of murder and a fundraising in cyberspace helped him pay the blood money to the victim’s family.

(16) A biographical film of Faezeh Hashemi Rafsanjani was banned due to her ongoing judicial case.

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