Kurdistan Human Rights Network

A new wave of nationwide protests that began on 28 December 2025 in several cities in Iran has continued for 10 days, with security forces responding with violent repression and mass arrests. In many cases, the fate and whereabouts of detainees remain unknown.

According to information obtained by the Kurdistan Human Rights Network (KHRN), at least 29 protesters have been killed across the country after being shot by military and security forces.

At least 11 of the dead were from Malekshahi, Kermanshah, Kuhdasht, Harsin and Nurabad in the provinces of Ilam, Kermanshah and Lorestan.

Many others in these and other cities have been injured by live ammunition, pellet fire and baton blows.

KHRN has so far documented the arrest of at least 200 people, including several civil rights activists, former political prisoners, an assistant professor and an athlete in the provinces of Tehran, Ilam, Kermanshah, Lorestan, Kurdistan and North Khorasan.

Our analysts and sources believe the real number is considerably higher, as families are under pressure from security agencies not to share information and full details cannot be obtained under current security conditions.

At least 20 detainees are children between the ages of 13 and 17 in the provinces of Ilam, Kermanshah, and Kurdistan.

Separately, the Coordinating Council of Iranian Teachers’ Union has reported that at least 100 schoolchildren were arrested during protests in Harsin, Kermanshah Province.

Two people detained in Kermanshah, including a child, told KHRN after their release that they were subjected to sexual abuse by Special Forces officers during arrest.

Simultaneously, mass arrests have been carried out without judicial warrants by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), security police and the Ministry of Intelligence in multiple cities, including Kuhdasht, Nurabad Delfan, Tehran, Harsin, Darreh Shahr, Kermanshah, Abdanan, Ilam, Sarableh and Esfarayen.

Families told KHRN that arrests were often violent and that they have received no information about the condition or location of those detained.

KHRN has also learned that on 2 January at least 60 citizens arrested during protests in various cities of Ilam Province were transferred to the temporary detention facility of Ilam Central Prison, where they were tortured in the prison yard by Special Forces. They have so far been denied contact with their families and access to legal counsel.

A source in Orumiyeh also informed KHRN that officials from the Protection and Inspection Office of the city’s central prison have visited the political prisoners’ ward and informed inmates that prison leave for political prisoners has been suspended for three months due to the “special situation” in the country.

KHRN continues to compile and update the list of detainees as further information becomes available.