Nationwide protests in Iran have recently all but ceased due to deadly government crackdowns that have resulted in hundreds of deaths. These protests are about Iran’s government and theocracy, a style of government revolving around religion, and are the biggest challenge to the regime in years. The protests started as a way of forcing the government to address rampant inflation across the country, but rapidly evolved to challenge the entire government system. In response, the government has been taking increasingly deadly measures, including nationwide shoot-to-kill orders and internet shutdowns that have prevented many Iranian immigrants from contacting their families in Iran, as well as people here not being able to contact friends and loved ones living in the country, leading to panic and uncertainty.
As of January 26, 2026, the United Nations (UN) is calling for investigations into the serious human rights violations going on during the protests. The UN is calling for Iran to stop the killings and all forms of violence against the protesters. The Iranian government has also been detaining thousands of protesters, including children and human rights protesters, and has its judicial system moving at maximum speed to inflict punishments on them. On top of this, the UN fact-finding mission has found definitive evidence that the Iranian soldiers have been using lethal rounds on crowds that posed no threat, resulting in the deaths of thousands of innocent men, women, and children. The chair of the investigation into Iran has marked it as the deadliest crackdown in Iran since the protests in 1979. In response, the UN has decided to extend the time of its investigations and operations in Iran.
As of January 27, 2026, thousands more have died. A US-based human rights activist news station now gives accurate figures verified by activist groups in Iran. Out of 6,000 deaths, 5,700 were protesters, and 300 were civilians and children not participating in the protests. When asked about their opinion on the protests, a sophomore at CHS, Fi, gave their opinion. “Make love, not war,” Fi said. Though it affects those who are protesting most of all, there are many people in Claremont and CHS who have friends and family in Iran who are suffering from the government crackdowns and deadly responses. It is safe to assume that in the next few days, many more will die in these protests as the Iranian government attempts to silence those who seek a better future.
