The January 2026 protests in Iran, which began on December 28, in Tehran’s Bazar in response to the rapid devaluation of the Iranian currency, quickly transformed into national protests demanding an end to corruption and political change. On January 8th and 9th, following calls from diaspora based opposition promoted by diaspora television broadcast channels, the numbers of those participating in protests grew significantly. Security forces responded with brutal and unprecedented violence, massacring thousands of largely peaceful citizens demanding change. Iranian authorities imposed an internet and communications shutdown on the 8th of January. While some internet connectivity has been restored, the majority of Iranians continue to be denied access to the internet and international telephone communications continue to face restrictions.
Given the internet shutdown, the process of verifying numbers of those arrested and killed has been slow and difficult. However, human rights groups report that at least 6,900 persons were killed, with some claims placing that number around 30,000. Reports indicate that nearly 50,000 have been detained nationwide as a result of the protests.
According to reports from human rights organizations and lawyers, many families remain unaware of the whereabouts of detainees or the charges brought against them. Reports further indicate that many of the detained protesters face serious charges, including fabricated charges supported by forced confessions. The charges against protests will likely result in long prison sentences with some charges carrying the death penalty. The judiciary’s emphasis on issuing fast-track and “deterrent” verdicts raises serious concerns about due process and the treatment of those in custody. Due to restrictions under Article 48 of Iran’s Criminal Procedure Law, many detainees are denied access to independent legal counsel and are instead limited to judiciary-approved lawyers. This practice violates the right to a fair trial and undermines fundamental due process guarantees.
There are also grave concerns regarding detainees’ access to medical care. Human rights organizations have documented cases in which the denial of medical treatment has been used as a punitive measure, in some instances resulting in death. Detainees with pre-existing medical conditions are particularly at risk. Meanwhile, state media continues to broadcast forced confessions, which are commonly extracted through psychological pressure, torture, and physical abuse, in clear violation of international prohibitions against torture and the right against self-incrimination.
Detainees urgently require sustained attention and support from the international human rights community. In this context, Femena has undertaken efforts to collect and document information on detained women protesters, including women human rights defenders (WHRDs). Although some of these women have been released on bail at the time of writing, they continue to face the risk of prosecution and lengthy prison sentences. Given the high number of detainees, it remains difficult to track individual cases and provide regular updates on their status. Femena’s aim is to ensure visibility, highlight the names of arrested women, and amplify their voices.
Femena strongly urges the international community to hold Iranian authorities and security officials responsible for the massacre of thousands of peaceful protesters accountable and to pressure the Islamic Republic to immediately and unconditionally release all detainees, halt the execution of prisoners, and allow UN observers in the country to document and assess the situation on the ground.
We also strongly urge the international community to take serious and concrete measures to support those who have been harmed by this unprecedented crisis in Iran through comprehensive humanitarian and protection measures, including provision of psychosocial support for those impacted and relocation support for those fleeing persecution.
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