On Monday, January 26th a U.S.-based rights group claims to have confirmed the deaths of 5,848 people in a wave of protests in Iran suppressed by security forces—while warning that investigations into potentially thousands more fatalities are ongoing.
The protests began in late December over economic grievances but evolved into widespread demonstrations against the government, with large street rallies from January 8th.
Human rights organizations have accused authorities of using lethal force against demonstrators, though the demonstrations have largely subsided for now.
The Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) said its confirmed toll includes 5,520 protesters, 77 minors, 209 members of the security forces, and 42 bystanders. The group added that it is investigating another 17,091 possible deaths. At least 41,283 people have been arrested, HRANA said.
Investigating the protests has been complicated by an 18-day internet shutdown, which monitors say is limiting access to information and obscuring the scale of the crackdown. Netblocks, which tracks internet access, noted that gaps in the filternet are being tightened while regime-approved accounts promote the official narrative.
Iranian authorities last week reported a death toll of 3,117, distinguishing between “martyrs,” which it defined as security personnel or bystanders, and “rioters” it said were backed by the United States. Of the official toll, 2,427 were classified as “martyrs.”
