My friends are all like me. We all know someone who was killed in the protests.
For Parisa, a 29-year-old from Tehran, the recent crackdown by security forces was unlike anything she had witnessed. In the most widespread previous protests, I didn't personally know a single person who had been killed, she shared, reflecting on the devastating personal toll amidst the escalating violence.
Since protests against worsening economic conditions erupted on December 28, the situation has evolved into one of the deadliest periods of anti-government unrest in Iran's history. Parisa knows at least 13 individuals who have lost their lives in the turmoil, with one tragic account detailing how a young woman was caught in a hail of bullets.
With over 6,000 fatalities reported, the devastation is echoed in the testimonies of countless Iranians. Mehdi, 24, remarked, Despite the killings and threats, people came out because many of them could no longer endure it and had nothing left to lose. Witnessing the aftermath of violence, he described the reality of security forces shooting protesters openly.
Iranian authorities claim a lower death toll, attributing the majority of fatalities to security personnel. However, human rights groups warn that the numbers provided by the government are misleading and that the final count of casualties could be significantly higher, with some projections exceeding 25,000.
During a protest, Sahar shared a harrowing experience where her friend was shot after poking his head out to observe the chaos outside. The violence escalated quickly, exacerbated by a communications blackout that left many citizens devoid of information about the safety of their loved ones.
As individuals recount shooting incidents and devastating injuries from police, the struggle for justice and recognition for those lost continues amidst a climate of fear and suppression.
