Why We Are Rallying — And Why It Matters

Right now in Iran, people are living through something most of us can’t even imagine.

The government has cut off the internet and phone lines, making it nearly impossible for Iranians to communicate with each other or the world. This digital blackout isn’t just inconvenient — it’s a tool to hide what is happening on the ground.

At the same time, peaceful protests that started across more than 400 cities have been met with unprecedented violence. Security forces have fired on demonstrators with live ammunition and carried out mass killings, resulting in thousands of deaths, including children.

This is one of the deadliest crackdowns in recent history — darker in scale than anything seen in decades.

Why? Because millions of Iranians are demanding something simple:
freedom, dignity, and justice.

ACTIONS you can take to help Iranian people

Why Iranians Are Protesting

In late December 2025, widespread protests began across cities and towns in Iran as people reacted to a deepening economic crisis — soaring inflation, severe shortages of electricity, water, and energy services, and a collapsing currency that eroded savings and livelihoods. These demonstrations quickly evolved from economic grievances into a broad revolution demanding an end to the Islamic Republic altogether to be able to live freely after 47 years of oppression.

After two weeks of protests and strikes, Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi, the exiled son of Iran’s last monarch, and the only true opposition of Islamic Republic, issued public appeals for coordinated nationwide action. On social media he wrote:

“My dear compatriots, with your courage and steadfastness, you have earned the admiration of the world… Now… take to the streets with flags, images, and national symbols and claim public spaces as your own… Our goal is no longer merely to come to the streets… to completely bring the Islamic Republic and its worn-out… repression apparatus to its knees.”

Millions answered from all 31 provinces — in cities and villages alike, chanting slogans such as “Death to the dictator!” and “This is the final battle — Pahlavi will return!” as crowds took to streets on January 8 and 9, 2026.

The Deadly Crackdown on January 8–9

The Deadly Crackdown on January 8–9

As protests peaked on January 8 and 9, security forces responded with a brutal campaign of lethal force:

Communication blackout: Internet and phone systems were cut off nationwide, a tactic widely seen as intended to conceal ongoing violence and humanitarian needs.
Military-grade weapons: Security forces deployed live ammunition, assault rifles, and shotguns against largely unarmed crowds. Videos confirmed troops firing directly at demonstrators in cities like Tehran, Amol, and Dezful.
Mass shootings: Victims included men, women, and minors (including at least 200 students whose identities have now been documented), some shot at close range in crowds or even found in forensic facilities days later.

Verified Casualty Figures

There is no single universally accepted count due to the blackout and restricted access, but the best globally sourced estimates suggest:

Human rights bodies and UN observers have noted that minimum death toll estimates could exceed 12,000 from those days alone, with some reports suggesting totals as high as 30,000+ nationwide linked to the broader crackdown.
Among the dead since the wider protests began are an estimated 200+ children and students.
Thousands more sustained injuries, many with severe wounds and permanent disabilities, including eyes and faces shot at close range.

“Innocent People Were Shot” — Eyewitness Accounts

An unnamed protester told CNN that as crowds flooded the streets, government forces “aimed with lasers and shot people in the face … They massacred people… They killed our most beautiful… our kids.”

In Rasht, survivors recounted families fleeing fires and gunfire only to be hunted down. “They shot at anyone without warning,” said one witness — “homes were burned, escape routes blocked, and hospitals were overwhelmed.”

Arrests, Summary Trials, and Ongoing Repression

The mass street protests may have subsided, but the crackdown has not stopped — it has shifted into courts, prisons, and hospitals:

Arrests and Legal Abuse

Tens of thousands of protesters, bystanders, activists, journalists, lawyers, doctors and medical staff have been detained — often in night arrests without warrants.
Many face vague and politicized charges like “enmity against God” (moharebeh) that carry death sentences.
Summary trials lasting just minutes have been widely reported, with denial of access to independent legal counsel. Rights monitors describe this as part of a broader campaign to remove due process. (Note: specific official sources are limited due to the blackout in Iran.)

Targeting Hospitals and Wounded Protesters

Multiple credible reports — including investigative news sources — assert that security forces have entered hospitals to execute or kill injured protesters still on beds or connected to life support.
Political prisoners — including those with serious injuries — have been summarily executed, sometimes only days after arrest, with little opportunity for appeal.

Why This Matters Beyond Iran

You might wonder: Why should this matter to me?

Since coming to power in 1979, the Islamic Republic has maintained hostility toward the United States and the West, beginning with the 444-day hostage crisis and continuing through decades of regional destabilization and proxy warfare.

Today, the regime continues to advance its nuclear program while negotiating from a position many policymakers and analysts view as unreliable. Its record of broken commitments and deception has deepened global mistrust.

A free Iran would reshape global stability:

• Security: The Iranian people are resisting a regime that fuels regional conflict and anti-Western extremism.
• Nuclear risk: A democratic Iran would reduce nuclear escalation risks and restore international trust.
• Economic opportunity: With vast natural resources, a young educated population, and a strategic location, a free Iran could become one of the world’s most significant emerging markets.
• Humanitarian impact: If repression continues, millions may flee in search of safety and dignity, intensifying global refugee pressures.

The future of Iran will influence the future of global security, economic opportunity, and human freedom.

What the World Is Saying

Major international news organizations have documented both the scale of the protests and the repression:

BBC News Persian has released identities of hundreds of those killed, confronting the regime’s efforts to erase records of victims.
Reuters reported that fatalities included not just demonstrators but bystanders hit by indiscriminate gunfire, and that families have struggled to find loved ones amid hospital and morgue chaos.
ApNews coverage notes at least 50,000 people detained nationwide and pervasive fear under ongoing repression — with many formerly hopeful activists now terrified for their safety.

On 23 January 2026, the United Nations Human Rights Council condemned the killings, adopted a resolution demanding investigation and restoration of communications, and noted that credible counts could exceed 36,500 deaths during the suppression phase, including 8–9 January.

Why We Are Here, Today

We stand with the people of Iran — not out of politics, but out of humanity.

We stand because:

Silence shouldn’t be an option when people are killed for speaking up.
Memory should not fade simply because it’s not on the evening news.
Every human being deserves dignity.

The struggle for freedom in Iran is not an isolated event. It’s a reminder that human rights are universal, and our voices do matter — especially when we unite for justice.

A Revolution Suppressed — but Not Defeated

Protesters across Iran and in the diaspora continue to insist that:

They rose not just against economic hardship, but against a regime they see as corrupt and incapable of providing even basic services. Yet their willingness to face bullets, arrest, and execution underscores a profound and persistent demand for regime change.

Activists warn international silence encourages further repression, and they urge sustained global attention to protect human rights and prevent atrocities.

Below are just a few photos of those who were killed by Islamic Republic. If we were to add one photo a day, it would take over 115 years.

Sources: