Against the Civilian Population during the January 2026 Events in Iran
This report has been prepared, taking into account the official determination of the United Nations Independent International Fact-Finding Mission confirming the commission of crimes against humanity in Iran, is based on a broad body of direct testimonies from eyewitnesses, families of victims, medical personnel, and field documentation collected from various regions of the country. A significant portion of this information was gathered under conditions of internet shutdowns or severe disruptions, an intensely securitized environment, threats against witnesses, and serious limitations on the safe transmission of information from inside Iran.
The findings of this report indicate that the events of January 2026 did not constitute a series of isolated incidents; rather, they formed part of a widespread and systematic attack against the civilian population. This attack was carried out through killings, arbitrary detention, torture, rape, enforced disappearances, deliberate denial of medical care, secret burials, and organized pressure on families to enforce silence. Given the covert nature of these crimes and the structural barriers to accessing information, this report necessarily reflects only part of the true scope of the events. Further documentation, with improved access to evidence and testimonies, will allow for completion and refinement of these findings in the future.
Objective of the Report
The objective of this report is to document and analyze the events of January 2026 in Iran within the legal framework of crimes against humanity, with a focus on identifying patterns of organized repression against the civilian population, the mechanisms through which such repression was carried out, and its legal implications. The report seeks to complement, deepen, and consolidate existing documentation, and to present an accurate, evidence-based account of the nature, scale, and systematic character of these events.
Sources of Information
The information and evidence used in this report have been collected from a diverse and independent range of field-based sources, including:
- Direct testimonies from eyewitnesses in multiple cities across Iran;
- Statements and accounts provided by families of victims who were killed or forcibly disappeared;
- Information and reports submitted by medical personnel and staff of healthcare facilities;
- Documentation relating to arrests, transfers, burial practices, or the handover of victims’ bodies;
- Field data and evidence received from inside Iran through independent and secure channels.
This report is not limited to a single institutional source or report; rather, it relies on the convergence and corroboration of independent bodies of evidence.
Methods of Collection and Verification
Information was collected through a phased and ongoing process. Each claim or finding was assessed, to the extent possible, on the basis of:
- Corroboration across multiple independent sources;
- Examination of temporal and geographical consistency of accounts;
- Comparison of testimonies with available medical data or physical evidence;
- Avoidance of reliance on isolated or unverifiable narratives.
Where full verification was not possible, this limitation has been explicitly acknowledged, and premature generalizations have been avoided.
Security and Ethical Considerations
Given the serious risks faced by witnesses, families of victims, and information sources inside Iran, this report:
- Refrains from disclosing names, personal details, or identifying information that could endanger individuals;
- Adheres to the principles of informed consent and protection of sources in the collection and use of testimonies;
- Presents sensitive information in aggregated or summarized form where necessary.
Limitations
A substantial portion of the information in this report was collected under conditions of widespread internet shutdowns or disruptions, an intensely securitized environment, intimidation and threats against witnesses, and severe constraints on the safe transmission of information from within Iran. These conditions have posed serious obstacles to comprehensive evidence collection, complete documentation of all cases, and full verification of certain data.
Accordingly, this report inevitably reflects only part of the actual scope of the events and the full scale of the crimes committed. As restrictions are lifted, access to additional sources becomes possible, and the process of collecting testimonies and documentation continues, the findings of this report may be further expanded and refined.
This report does not replace official or judicial investigations conducted by international bodies; rather, it is intended to complement, reinforce, and support independent efforts toward truth-seeking and accountability.
Findings: Patterns of Violations and Organized Repression
The findings of this report demonstrate that the events of January 2026 in Iran bore the defining characteristics of a widespread and systematic attack against the civilian population. The violations committed were neither reactive nor isolated; rather, they were grounded in identifiable, repetitive, and coordinated patterns implemented across different regions of the country through similar methods.
- Use of Lethal Force with Intent to Kill
The collected evidence indicates that, during the January 2026 events, security and law enforcement forces extensively used firearms and military-grade ammunition against unarmed protesters. The pattern of gunfire, the type of ammunition used, and the points of targeting indicate an intent to kill or to inflict fatal injury, rather than to disperse crowds.
In numerous cases:
- Shots were fired at vital areas of the body, including the head, neck, and chest;
- Gunfire was carried out at close range or from elevated positions;
- Victims were fleeing or posed no immediate threat.
Documented testimonies:
8 January 2026, Tehran | Street eyewitness
“They were shot from behind. He was running when the bullet hit his head and he fell. He had no stone, nothing in his hands. He was just trying to escape.”
9 January 2026, Mashhad | Local eyewitness
“The forces were shooting directly at the upper body. It was as if they had orders to shoot to kill. Several people fell next to me; one was shot in the neck.”
10 January 2026, Arak | Medical personnel (anonymous)
“Most of the injured brought in had gunshot wounds to the head or chest. These injuries are not consistent with warning shots or crowd control.”
Taken together, these testimonies, alongside the geographical spread of similar incidents, indicate the implementation of a unified policy of lethal force against the civilian population.
- Mass Killings and Widespread Civilian Casualties
Field reports and eyewitness testimonies indicate that a significant number of victims:
- Were unarmed and played no direct role in confrontations;
- Included adolescents, young people, and women;
- Were targeted in streets, along escape routes, or even in the immediate vicinity of their homes.
The simultaneity of incidents in multiple cities and the similarity of methods point to a coordinated pattern of killing at the national level.
Documented testimonies:
9 January 2026, Isfahan | Eyewitness
“We were just watching. Suddenly the shooting started. A boy of 17 or 18 fell next to me. He had done nothing.”
8 January 2026, Tehranpars | Family member of a victim
“My brother was coming back from the grocery store. There was no gathering, no clash. He was shot in the chest. They said it was ‘a mistake,’ but they never gave any explanation.”
- Widespread and Arbitrary Arrests
Following the January events, security forces carried out large-scale, rapid arrests without due process. These arrests took place in streets, homes, medical facilities, and workplaces, often without the presentation of judicial warrants.
Documented testimonies:
11 January 2026, Tehran | Former detainee, later released
“They said they just had a few questions. They blindfolded me and took me away. For three days, no one knew where I was.”
10 January 2026, Karaj | Family member of a detainee
“They came to the house and broke the door. They only said, ‘Your son is a rioter.’ No warrant, no explanation.”
- Concealment of Bodies, Secret Burials, and Pressure on Families
The findings show that authorities, in numerous cases, refused to return the bodies of victims or compelled families to carry out night-time burials without ceremonies. In some instances, the release of bodies was conditioned on the payment of money and the signing of commitments to remain silent.
Documented testimonies:
10 January 2026, Tehran (Kahrizak) | Eyewitness
“They said if you hold a ceremony, we will not give you the body. They told us to bury him at night and be done with it.”
12 January 2026, Mashhad | Family member of a victim
“They said either you pay and sign, or he will be buried tonight without informing you.”
These patterns were implemented to conceal the true scale of the killings, prevent public documentation, and break the resistance of families.
- Enforced Disappearances and Deliberate Denial of Information to Families
The findings indicate that enforced disappearance was a central tool of repression during the January 2026 events. In numerous cases, individuals were removed from contact with their families for days or weeks following arrest or injury, with no official information provided regarding their place of detention, health status, or even whether they were alive.
This pattern included:
- Failure to officially register arrests or transfers;
- Contradictory denials of detention by different authorities;
- Complete denial of contact with family members and lawyers;
- Sudden handover of bodies or notification of death without explanation of the time, place, or cause.
Documented testimonies:
9 January 2026, Tehran | Mother of a detainee
“From the night of the arrest until six days later, no one answered us anywhere. Everywhere we went, they said he was not there. In the end, they said he had died, without telling us when or where.”
11 January 2026, Karaj | Sister of a disappeared person
“The IRGC said he was not with them, the police said the IRGC took him. The prosecutor’s office said there were no detainees at all. Ten days later, they only told us to come to collect the body.”
10 January 2026, Mashhad | Father of a disappeared wounded person
“He was in the hospital, shot. In the morning we went back and they said he had been taken away at night. No one said where. We still do not know if he is alive or not.”
In some cases, families received minimal information only after signing silence pledges or paying money. These practices indicate that enforced disappearance was not the result of chaos, but part of a deliberate policy aimed at instilling fear, disempowering families, and preventing legal accountability.
- Torture and Cruel, Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment
Numerous testimonies from released detainees and families indicate that torture and ill-treatment in official and unofficial detention facilities were not exceptional, but routine. These practices were carried out with the aim of extracting confessions, intimidation, and psychological breakdown.
Reported patterns include:
- Severe beatings during arrest and interrogation;
- Threats of killing or harming family members;
- Sexual violence and sexual threats;
- Prolonged deprivation of sleep, water, food, and medical care.
Documented testimonies:
12 January 2026, Tehran | Released detainee
“I was blindfolded. Every time my answers were not what they wanted, they beat me. They said if I did not confess, they would bring my sister.”
13 January 2026, Isfahan | Female detainee
“The sexual threats were explicit. They said they would do something that would make my family ashamed to see me. That was worse than the beatings.”
11 January 2026, Mashhad | Cellmate of a deceased detainee
“He could no longer stand. He asked for a doctor; they said ‘it will pass.’ Two days later, he was no longer breathing.”
In some cases, families reported clear signs of torture following the release of detainees or the return of bodies, including fractures, extensive bruising, cable marks, and burns. These indicators, combined with the recurrence of similar patterns across multiple cities, point to the systematic use of torture within a broader policy of repression.
Consolidated Summary of Findings
The patterns of enforced disappearance and torture, alongside the use of lethal force and the concealment of bodies, form a coherent chain of grave human rights violations aimed not merely at suppressing protests, but at breaking the individual and collective will of society. From the perspective of international law, these patterns contain clear elements of crimes against humanity.
Epilogue
The documented findings and patterns in this section demonstrate that the events of January 2026 cannot be characterized as a series of isolated violations or sporadic reactions. The geographical scope, repetition of methods, coordination among multiple institutions, and severity of the violations all indicate the existence of an organized structure of repression.
At the same time, documenting violations and patterns of abuse constitutes only the first step toward accountability. Fundamental questions regarding decision-making processes, chains of command, the knowledge of senior officials, and the resulting legal responsibility require analysis within the framework of international criminal law.
Part Two of this report addresses these questions. With a focus on command structures, implemented policies, official acknowledgments, and applicable legal standards, it assesses the qualification of these acts as crimes against humanity and the resulting structural and individual responsibility.
