19 January 2026 :
January 19, 2026 - IRAN. Hrana Report on the 22nd day of protests. 3,685 protesters killed
8,949 additional deaths are still under investigation by HRANA
Day Twenty-Two of the Protests: The Scale of the Killings Grows as the Internet Shutdown Continues
On the twenty-second day of nationwide protests in Iran, amid the continued widespread internet shutdown and reports of limited and unstable connections in some areas, the wave of arrests continued in various cities. At the same time, senior government officials intensified their threatening rhetoric in response to external pressure. According to verified case-based statistics as of the end of this day, 3,919 people have been killed, while 8,949 additional deaths are still under investigation by HRANA. Additionally, 2,109 people have been severely injured, and the number of confirmed detainees has reached 24,669. Alongside these developments, numerous reports have emerged of increased pressure on families, difficulties in handing over the bodies of those killed, and the continuation of a heavy security atmosphere in some regions.
Amid the ongoing severe disruption of internet access and communications, reports point to rising fatalities, widespread arrests, and an intensified security presence across cities nationwide.
Disruption of Communications
On the twenty-second day, following several days of an almost complete internet shutdown, reports emerged of limited and unstable internet connectivity in some parts of the country. These intermittent connections allowed a portion of the accumulated information and images from previous days to reach independent sources with delay, revealing the broader scope of the crackdown and killings.
According to information received, with the partial restoration of internet access, images and reports from forensic medicine centers, morgues, and burial sites of those killed were published, indicating a high number of bodies that had not been handed over and pressure on families to remain silent and conduct nighttime burials. In some cases, families reported that the delivery of their loved ones’ bodies was made conditional on signing written pledges or accepting the official narrative.
Despite these intermittent connections, global internet access remains severely disrupted in most parts of the country. The sending and receiving of information is widely reported as unstable, and many citizens are only able to communicate during short time windows. This situation continues to seriously hinder independent reporting, accurate documentation of events, and the completion of human rights statistics.
Foreign Reactions
At the international level, reactions to the crackdown on protests and the internet shutdown continued, with harsher positions voiced in some political circles compared to previous days. In the United States, statements circulated emphasizing the need for change in Iran’s leadership structure and holding the highest levels of the ruling establishment responsible for the violence.
At the same time, discussions about expanding sanctions, limiting diplomatic relations, and preventing the normalization of engagement with the Islamic Republic were raised in political circles and parliaments of several countries. A number of governments also issued new security advisories for their citizens, warning about Iran’s unstable domestic situation.
Government Responses
Inside the country, government officials responded to foreign positions by reinforcing a security-based narrative of the protests, describing protesters using rhetoric such as “affiliation with the enemy” and “threats to national security.” At the same time, Iran’s president warned that any “attack” on the Supreme Leader would amount to “all-out war,” a stance that received widespread attention in both domestic and international media.
On the security front, the Ministry of Intelligence announced in a statement that more than 300 citizens had been arrested on charges it described as “leading the protests.” In addition, numerous reports emerged of arrests in various cities, including the detention of a lawyer in Tehran and scattered arrests in several other cities.
Some military and security institutions have also reported the arrest of protesters in different provinces. In some cases, videos of so-called “confessions” by detainees have been released, though the circumstances under which they were recorded remain unclear. The continuation of this trend has heightened concerns about increased pressure on detainees and the use of forced confessions.
The judiciary has likewise defended the ongoing measures, stating that cases related to detainees are being processed swiftly.
Statistics
Based on verified, case-by-case data through the end of the twenty-second day of protests:
- Number of recorded protests: 624
- Total confirmed fatalities: 3,919
- Protesters: 3,685
- Minors under 18: 25
- Military and government forces: 178
- Non-protesting civilians: 31
- Deaths under investigation: 8,949
- Severely injured: 2,109
- Detainees (arrested or identified): 24,669
- Broadcast forced confessions: 145 cases
These figures are based solely on verified individual reports. Given the internet shutdown, communication restrictions, and limited independent access to information, the actual numbers are likely significantly higher than reported.
Summary
The twenty-second day of protests was marked by the continued widespread internet disruption, reports of limited and unstable connectivity, and an intensified security atmosphere accompanied by ongoing arrests. At the political level, the escalation of threatening rhetoric by government officials, alongside continued international reactions, indicates that the crisis remains on an upward trajectory. With communication restrictions persisting, a substantial number of casualties and instances of repression remain under investigation, and confirmed figures are likely to increase in the coming days.
