A Detailed Report on the Suppression of Medical Personnel during the January 2026 Uprising
In the course of the January 2026 nationwide uprising, the fundamental principle of “Medical Neutrality” and the sanctity of the Hippocratic Oath have been severely violated by the security forces of the Iran’s regime. Reliable reports, statements from international bodies, and even admissions by domestic officials indicate that medical centers have been transformed into battlefields. Physicians and healthcare workers have been targeted for arrest, torture, and harsh judicial sentences solely for performing their inherent duty to save human lives. This report examines the legal and field dimensions of this crackdown.
Admissions and Contradictions of Official Authorities: Unveiling the Arrests
Despite the regime’s efforts to conceal the extent of the repression, statements from officials of the Medical Council of the Islamic Republic of Iran (IRIMC) confirm the occurrence of widespread arrests.
Mohammad Mirkhani, Social and Parliamentary Deputy of the IRIMC, explicitly stated in interviews with media outlets (Eghtesad 24 – February 1, 2026, quoting Khabar Online):
“In the recent protests, regardless of the reasons or the exact number, there are doctors who have been arrested.” He further clarified: “The arrest of the medical community has naturally been similar to that of other segments of society.” Speaking to Fararu (January 30, 2026), Mirkhani admitted the difficulty of accessing data:
“Official and reliable statistics on doctors arrested in incidents with security implications are not easily obtained; most of this information comes from conversations with colleagues… and we are obligated to verify these reports.”
Meanwhile, Mohammad Raiszadeh, President of the IRIMC, while confirming the detention of 17 physicians, attempted to deny the link between these arrests and the treatment of protesters, yet fell into contradiction. In an interview with ISNA (January 31, 2026), he stated:
“Seventeen members of the Medical Council faced judicial and security issues for various reasons, which we reviewed case by case… I emphasize that it is not the case that they were arrested for providing medical treatment.” However, he added: “These individuals were not arrested solely for medical actions, and no final verdicts have been issued for them yet.”
In contrast, Etela’at Online (January 30, 2026) reported:
“It is said that several members of the medical staff and doctors have been arrested during the recent protests… unofficial news suggests the reason for these arrests was the treatment of wounded protesters, while others believe some were detained for participating in the protests themselves.”
More tragic than the arrests is the loss of life among medical staff. Yaser Najafabadi, a member of the IRIMC General Assembly, told Etela’at Online:
“Yes, it is said that a number of medical and nursing students lost their lives in the protests; I checked the statistics and unfortunately found that several medical students and healthcare staff are among the victims of the recent protests.”
International Reactions: Global Condemnation of Violations against Medical Sanctity
The international community has not remained silent. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), issued a clear message demanding an immediate end to the attacks. According to an official WHO statement, reports indicate that doctors, nurses, and paramedics have been attacked, detained, or intimidated at their workplaces.
Tedros Adhanom wrote:
“I am deeply concerned by numerous reports regarding the impact of recent insecurities on health workers and facilities. Reports show that these individuals and centers have been prevented from providing vital services to those in need of care.”
He highlighted the detention of at least five doctors while they were treating patients, emphasizing:
“I call for the protection of health workers and the immediate release of those who have been detained while performing their duties. Healthcare workers should never face intimidation or threats. We have confirmed that several medical centers across the country have been damaged, including ten pre-hospital emergency bases where over fifty paramedics were injured and more than two hundred ambulances were damaged.”
Furthermore, the U.S. Department of State criticized the punishment of doctors as a “betrayal of civilization.” Its statement read:
“Iranian doctors take an oath to prioritize their patients’ interests, to do no harm, and to uphold the highest ethical standards. Yet, the regime punishes medical staff simply for treating wounded protesters—precisely for doing what they swore to do: protecting human life.”
- Legal Documentation: Gross Violations of International Covenants
The attacks on healthcare personnel and medical centers in Iran constitute a direct violation of several international human rights instruments:
- Article 6 of the ICCPR (Right to Life): Attacks on hospitals and medical services directly jeopardize human lives.
- Article 7 of the ICCPR (Prohibition of Torture): The detention and intimidation of medical staff during their duties constitute inhuman and degrading treatment.
- Article 10 of the ICCPR (Humane Treatment of Detainees): Arrested doctors and nurses must be respected as professionals; violating this by denying them access to lawyers or basic rights is a breach of international law.
- Article 12 of the ICESCR (Right to Health): Every human has the right to healthcare without discrimination; attacks on medical centers severely violate this right.
- Article 19 of the ICCPR (Freedom of Expression/Information): The disruption of medical equipment and the arrest of doctors restrict the free flow of information regarding the public’s health status during a crisis.
Victims of the Medical Oath: Names and Status of Detainees
The security apparatus has targeted specialists and general practitioners nationwide to instill terror. In one of the most shocking cases, the U.S. State Department noted the case of Dr. Alireza Golchini:
“Dr. Alireza Golchini is a prime example of this injustice. He faces the death penalty solely for adhering to his medical oath. Criminalizing empathy and turning healers into enemies is a profound betrayal of civilization and a confirmation of barbarism.”
The status of Dr. Alireza Rezaei, a urologist in Tehran, is also deeply concerning. He was arrested approximately two weeks ago after leaving his clinic. His family and colleagues have received no information regarding his health or whereabouts.
List of 15 Confirmed Arrested Healthcare Professionals:
- Alireza Rezaei – Urologist (Tehran)
- Alireza Golchini – Surgeon (Qazvin) – Sentenced to Death
- Ameneh Soleimani – General Practitioner (Ardebil)
- Matin Moradian – Healthcare Employee (Mashhad)
- Saber Dehghan – Neurosurgeon (Sirjan)
- Farhad Nadali – General Surgeon (Gorgan)
- Babak Pouramin – General Practitioner (Mashhad)
- Sobhan Esmaeil-Doust – Dentist (Lahijan)
- Shamsi Abbasalizadeh – Gynecologist (Tabriz)
- Mohebat Ghafouri – Pediatrician (Lar)
- Babak Zarrabian – Infectious Disease Specialist (Isfahan)
- Asghar Shakeri – General Practitioner (Mashhad)
- Fariba Hosseini – Dentist (Shiraz)
- Masoud Ebadi-Fard Azar – Surgeon & Head of Pasteur Hospital (Qazvin)
- Parisa Parkar – Ophthalmologist & spouse of Dr. Ebadi-Fard Azar (Qazvin)
Reaction of the Medical Community: Boycotts and Protests
The pressure on healthcare workers has not gone unanswered. Reports indicate a surge in protest movements by medical students and a nationwide boycott of exams in cities including Tehran, Ahvaz, Tabriz, and Zahedan. These actions are a direct response to the arrests of doctors and students, reflecting the solidarity of the medical community against repression.
Resilience Deserving of a Global Outcry
The defiance of those in white coats against barbarism during the January 2026 uprising will record the names of Iranian doctors and nurses as heroes who chose their oath over the executioner’s blade. The criminalization of empathy, death sentences, and the potential execution of healers signal the moral decay of a regime that fears even the healing of its opponents’ wounds. Today, the unconditional release of Dr. Alireza Rezaei, Dr. Golchini, and all detained medical staff is a humanitarian imperative. Silence in the face of this barbarism is a green light for the regime to destroy the last sanctuaries of the people: medical centers.
The Necessity of Ending Impunity for Criminals
The systematic detention of medical staff and the issuance of severe sentences, such as the death penalty for Dr. Alireza Golchini, represent a flagrant violation of the Geneva Conventions and International Humanitarian Law. By turning hospitals into detention centers and doctors into security targets, the Iranian regime has effectively declared war on the lives of its citizens. The international community must move beyond verbal condemnations; the cases of torture and detention of healthcare workers must be investigated directly by the UN Fact-Finding Mission, and those responsible must be placed on human rights sanction lists for Crimes Against Humanity and be brought to trial before international tribunals. Safeguarding the medical oath is safeguarding human civilization.
