January 18, 2026 — Tehran / Global Desk: Iranian authorities acknowledged on Sunday that at least 5,000 people have been killed amid nationwide protests that erupted in late December, marking the deadliest internal unrest in the Islamic Republic since the 1979 revolution. The government’s announcement came as the judiciary signaled potential executions for those it labels “enemies of God,” raising international alarm over human rights violations and prospects of state-sanctioned death sentences.
Protests began on December 28, 2025, initially driven by widespread economic hardship, rising food prices, and the plunging value of the Iranian rial. They quickly escalated into broad anti-government demonstrations, spreading across all 31 provinces and drawing tens of thousands onto the streets. Amid a severe internet blackout imposed by authorities, aimed at curtailing communication and independent reporting, the unrest evolved into a direct challenge to the clerical leadership.
An unnamed Iranian official told Reuters that the verified death toll includes both civilians and roughly 500 security personnel, whom the government said were killed by “terrorists and armed rioters.” Iran’s judiciary has intensified rhetoric against protesters, labeling many as mohareb, a term used in Iranian law meaning “waging war against God”, which carries the death penalty. Officials indicated that trials could be expedited and that executions were a legal possibility for those convicted of violent acts during the protests. Human rights groups warn that such legal measures could be used against peaceful demonstrators and dissenters.
Independent rights organizations paint a far grimmer picture. The Norway-based Iran Human Rights NGO reported that at least 3,428 protesters have been killed by security forces in intense clashes, and the total death toll could be significantly higher. Other activist sources, citing hospital data and eyewitness accounts, estimate figures far exceeding official counts, in some cases surpassing 12,000 to 20,000 deaths. Verification remains difficult due to restricted access inside the country.
Beyond fatalities, more than 24,000 people have been arrested, including activists, journalists, and ordinary citizens swept up in the nationwide crackdown. Reports of mass detentions, trials without transparent legal safeguards, and use of lethal force have drawn sharp criticism from international human rights organizations and Western governments.
World leaders and global institutions have condemned the violence and urged restraint. Calls for independent investigations and protections for civilians have intensified as images and testimonies, often shared via satellite internet and diaspora networks, continue to emerge.
Originally published by Reuters & Aljazeera.
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