Islamic Republic of Iran: Regime Responsible for the Killing of Over 12,000 People

Image: Jihad Watch

Iran International’s Editorial Board has released a powerful statement titled “The killing of 12,000 Iranians will not be buried in silence,” outlining its investigation into the most recent wave of repression in Iran and issuing an urgent call for documentation and eyewitness testimony. The statement reflects the outlet’s findings after days of verification amid an unprecedented information blackout.

According to the editorial board, Iran is currently experiencing a deliberate and systematic blackout designed not merely to impose security control, but to erase evidence of what is unfolding on the ground. Widespread internet shutdowns, severe disruptions to communication networks, the silencing of independent media, and intimidation of journalists, medical staff, and witnesses all point to a singular objective: preventing the exposure of what may constitute one of the gravest crimes in the country’s modern history.

In the days following the protests, Iran International began receiving fragmented yet deeply alarming reports indicating mass violence and large-scale loss of life. Rather than rushing to publish unverified figures, the organization focused on corroborating information and piecing together a reliable account of events. In an environment where authorities actively suppress information and obstruct transparency, compiling an accurate assessment of casualties is both complex and time-intensive. The editorial board emphasized that prematurely releasing incomplete or unverified numbers could undermine the credibility of the findings and obscure the true magnitude of the tragedy.

By Sunday, however, the accumulation of evidence and the convergence of independent accounts reached a critical threshold. At that point, the available data allowed for a more accurate and responsible assessment of the situation.

Over the past two days, Iran International’s editorial board conducted an extensive, multi-layered review process in line with established journalistic and professional standards. This review included information from a source close to Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, two sources within the presidential office, and multiple contacts inside the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in the cities of Mashhad, Kermanshah, and Isfahan. These accounts were cross-checked with testimonies from eyewitnesses and families of those killed, on-the-ground field reports, data connected to medical facilities, and information provided by doctors and nurses across several cities.

Based on this comprehensive review, the editorial board has reached a stark conclusion.

The events of Thursday and Friday, January 8 and 9, represent the largest mass killing in Iran’s contemporary history. Largely carried out over two consecutive nights, the crackdown resulted in the deaths of at least 12,000 people.

In terms of geographic spread, intensity of violence, and the sheer number of fatalities compressed into such a short time frame, this episode is without precedent in Iran’s recorded history. The information gathered indicates that the majority of those killed were shot by forces belonging to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and the Basij, underscoring the organized and state-driven nature of the violence.

The editorial board asserts that such a scale of killing cannot and must not be obscured by silence, censorship, or fear, and stresses the urgent need for continued documentation, testimony, and international attention.

(This Article was originally published by Jihad Watch)