CIVICUS discusses Iran’s recent wave of protests and their repression with members of Hengaw Organisation for Human Rights (HOHR), a civil society organisation that documents and reports on human rights violations in Kurdistan and across Iran.

Economic hardship triggered mass protests in late December, with protesters’ demands rapidly expanding to encompass calls for political accountability, an end to repression and the fall of the regime in power since 1979. Authorities have deployed live ammunition, military-grade weapons and mass arrests, committing what human rights groups have described as crimes against humanity. Death toll estimates vary widely due to a near-total internet shutdown imposed at the height of the protests, with some estimates suggesting that over 30,000 people have been killed.

What triggered the protests, and how did they compare with previous ones?

Overall, the protests reflect a broad rejection of the current political system. But across different periods, specific social grievances have served as immediate triggers for protests. In 2009, the catalyst was the presidential election. In 2017 and 2019, protests were driven by rising prices and fuel costs. During the Woman, Life, Freedom uprising of 2022, compulsory hijab enforcement by the morality patrol acted as the trigger. In the latest wave of protests, currency devaluation and market instability have played that role. For this reason, it would be misleading to attribute the protests to a single, isolated cause.

With economic distress being the immediate trigger in the current phase, the capital, Tehran, emerged as the primary focal point, followed by other urban centres. While systemic poverty has also undeniably acted as a catalyst in Baluchistan and Kurdistan regions, multiple factors are at play, including demands for basic civil liberties and political participation. Ultimately, however, the decisive driver across all regions is political.

Core demands remain political change, freedom, dignity, equality and justice. While each period may be ignited by a specific issue, the underlying grievances persist.

How have authorities responded?

Authorities have responded primarily through force. We have documented a consistent pattern that includes militarised operations, the use of lethal force, including live ammunition, mass arrests and serious violations of detainees’ rights.

In Ilam and Kermanshah provinces we have confirmed the deployment of military-grade weapons and the use of gunfire against protesters. Eyewitness testimonies we have collected and verified in Islamshahr and Tehran describe indiscriminate firing by government forces towards crowds of civilians and into residential areas. Witnesses have reported gunfire directed at unarmed protesters and bystanders without warning or proportionality, reinforcing concerns that force had been used in an arbitrary and unlawful manner.

There have also been grave violations involving medical facilities. In Ilam, verified footage shows Special Unit forces entering hospitals, using teargas inside wards and beating and humiliating families of wounded protesters and medical staff. In Tehran, verified videos from a morgue show dozens of bodies placed in black bags while families attempted to identify their loved ones. Women and children are among those killed, underlining the indiscriminate nature of the violence.

This has taken place alongside a near-total internet shutdown, making independent verification extremely difficult. As a result, the total numbers of people killed, injured and detained remains unknown. However, it seems the scale of repression was likely far larger than what has been confirmed so far.

The situation of detainees is also critical. We have documented systematic threats and coercion, including repeated accusations that detainees are linked to foreign governments or hostile entities. Under Iran’s judicial system, such allegations can lead to severe punishment. Some detainees are as young as 15, raising urgent concerns about child rights and due process.

What should the international community do?

International responses have included sanctions and strong public statements, including by Donald Trump. However, these have not succeeded in protecting civilian lives and violence has continued on the ground despite external pressure.

Experience has taught us that when international attention decreases, state violence often intensifies. Escalation can include rushed and unfair trials, death sentences, executions and increased pressure on the families of detainees and those killed.

When a state openly and continuously commits widespread and premeditated killings of civilians, the international community has an obligation to invoke the principle of the Responsibility to Protect, and we have repeatedly called for this.

The international community must consider all lawful mechanisms under international law, including binding measures under the Charter of the United Nations, to ensure the protection of civilians and an end to mass killings. As a tangible first step, we have urged the UK and the European Union to withdraw their ambassadors from Tehran and downgrade diplomatic relations.

CIVICUS interviews a wide range of civil society activists, experts and leaders to gather diverse perspectives on civil society action and current issues for publication on its CIVICUS Lens platform. The views expressed in interviews are the interviewees’ and do not necessarily reflect those of CIVICUS. Publication does not imply endorsement of interviewees or the organisations they represent.