To avoid fear of arrest, Iranian protesters are receiving medical treatment secretly

Amid ongoing unrest in Iran, protesters are increasingly seeking medical treatment in secrecy to avoid arrest, according to reports from BBC Bangla. The Iranian authorities claim that over 3,100 people have died during the protests, most of whom they say are security personnel or bystanders allegedly killed by “rioters.”

However, the full scale of casualties remains uncertain due to nationwide internet restrictions and prohibitions on most international media reporting.

Human rights organisations have reported significantly higher figures. The United States-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) has confirmed 6,301 deaths related to the protests. Among these, 5,925 were protesters, 112 were children, 50 were bystanders, and 214 were government-affiliated individuals. HRANA is currently investigating reports of an additional 17,091 deaths.

At least 11,000 protesters are estimated to have been seriously injured. Many of these individuals have avoided hospitals, fearing arrest. Instead, they have relied on doctors, nurses, and volunteers to provide treatment at private homes, often in unsafe conditions.

Medical staff report that security forces are present in hospitals, constantly monitoring records to identify injured protesters. One protester, speaking under a pseudonym, described how he and a friend were injured by security forces while attempting to join a demonstration in Isfahan. They were forced to seek refuge in a private residence, where a doctor treated their wounds. The doctor warned that some injuries could not be fully treated later and might leave permanent damage.

Dr Nima, a Tehran surgeon, recounted that on 8 January, he witnessed multiple young people injured on the streets. “I transported one patient in my car’s boot to the hospital,” he told BBC, fearing that police would stop them otherwise. Nima described performing surgeries for 96 consecutive hours without sleep, with all hospital gowns and outer clothing soaked in blood. He noted that many young patients suffered gunshot wounds to vital organs, some requiring amputations and resulting in permanent disabilities.

Semi-official news agencies have confirmed a high volume of medical interventions: the Tasnim News Agency cited Ministry of Health spokesperson Hossein Shokri, stating that 13,000 surgeries were performed during the protests. Dr Kassem Fakhrai of Tehran’s Farabi Eye Hospital reported treating 700 patients with severe eye injuries by 10 January, with around 200 referred to other hospitals.

A persistent concern is the documentation of gunshot injuries. Health workers in Tehran have deliberately avoided recording such details in medical records to protect patients, as hospitals remain under constant surveillance by security forces. In smaller towns, the situation is reportedly even more severe, with reports of security forces abducting patients from hospitals, leaving some never seen again.

Human rights groups have warned that medical personnel and volunteers treating the injured are themselves now targets. Iran Human Rights (IHR) recently reported that at least five doctors and one volunteer have been arrested, with some subjected to beatings in their own homes. Some face charges of “Moharebeh,” or “enmity against God,” a capital offence under Iranian law.

Table: Reported Casualties of Iranian Protests (HRANA Data)