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Iran's Brutal Crackdown: Mass Arrests, Torture of Civilians Exposed

Human Rights Watch has accused Iranian authorities of orchestrating a brutal, coordinated clampdown to terrorize civilians following protests and killings in early January. The campaign involves mass arbitrary arrests, incommunicado detention, torture, and the broadcasting of coerced confessions. There are growing fears of a wave of arbitrary and secret executions as officials vilify protesters with capital charges. The rights body calls for UN pressure and international criminal investigations under universal jurisdiction.

Key Points: Iran's Mass Arrests, Torture Campaign Flagged by Rights Body

  • Mass arbitrary detentions and torture
  • Coerced confessions including from children
  • Enforced disappearances and secret executions
  • Nationwide protests sparked by economic woes
3 min read

Rights body flags Iran's 'brutal' campaign of mass arrests, torture against civilians

Human Rights Watch accuses Iran of a brutal campaign of mass arbitrary detentions, torture, and enforced disappearances against civilians.

"Authorities continue to terrorise the population. - Bahar Saba, HRW"

New York, Feb 24

Human Rights Watch, a US-based advocacy group, on Tuesday accused the Iranian authorities of waging a brutal campaign to "terrorise" civilians through mass arbitrary detentions, torture, and enforced disappearances following the killings of protesters and bystanders across Iran by security forces on January 8 and 9.

The protests, which initially erupted on December 28, 2025, from two markets in the Iranian capital Tehran over rising inflation and the steep fall in the value of the rial, subsequently transformed into a nationwide agitation.

Citing evidence, the HRW stated that senior officials, Iran's security and intelligence agencies, including the police, known as "FARAJA", the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corp (IRGC) and its intelligence organisation, the Ministry of Intelligence, and prosecutorial and judicial officials have orchestrated a "coordinated, brutal mass clampdown" aimed at quashing dissent and concealing their atrocities.

According to the HRW, in addition to mass arrests, the Iranian authorities have held detainees in incommunicado detention, including in unofficial facilities. The rights body further said that the officials have broadcast hundreds of coerced "confessions," including those of children, and carried out large-scale enforced disappearances while imposing severe restrictions resembling martial law in several Iranian cities.

"As the whole nation remains in shock, horror, and grief, and families still search for their loved ones in the aftermath of the massacres of January 8 and 9, authorities continue to terrorise the population. Arrests continue, and detainees face torture, coerced 'confessions,' and secret, summary, and arbitrary executions. Given the immense dangers those detained and forcibly disappeared face, international monitors should immediately be given unhindered access to all detention facilities and prisons," said Bahar Saba, senior Iran researcher at HRW.

The rights body stated that "fears of a wave of death sentences and arbitrary, summary, and secret executions" are growing amid official statements and a recent surge in executions in Iran. Since protests began, it said, Iranian officials have vilified protesters, repeatedly referring to them as "criminals", and mohareb, an individual "waging war against God," which is a capital offence under Iranian law.

The HRW called on the United Nations to press Iranian authorities to immediately release all those arbitrarily detained, disclose the fate and whereabouts of people forcibly disappeared, halt any planned executions, and allow independent international bodies, such as the UN Fact-Finding Mission on Iran, unhindered access to the country, including prisons, detention facilities, hospitals, morgues, and cemeteries.

"Systematic impunity has enabled Iranian authorities to repeatedly commit crimes under international law. Other countries' judicial authorities should initiate criminal investigations of international crimes under the principle of universal jurisdiction and in accordance with national laws, with a view to prosecute those suspected of criminal responsibility," Saba stressed.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

A
Arjun K
While the situation in Iran is deeply disturbing, we must also be cautious about reports from Western advocacy groups. Their narratives sometimes serve geopolitical interests. That said, the reports of torture and forced confessions, especially of children, are horrific if true. The UN must ensure independent verification.
R
Rohit P
Started with protests over inflation and currency fall... sounds very familiar. It shows how economic distress can ignite people's power anywhere. But the state's response here is terrifyingly brutal. Hope the international community finds a way to apply real pressure.
S
Sarah B
As someone who values human rights, this report is chilling. "Enforced disappearances" and "secret executions" are tools of the darkest regimes. The UN Fact-Finding Mission must be granted access immediately. The world is watching.
V
Vikram M
It's a grim reminder of how precious our democratic freedoms are. We may complain about our system, but at least we can protest without fear of being disappeared or labelled an enemy of God. Solidarity with the brave people of Iran.
K
Karthik V
The report mentions the IRGC's role. This is the same force active in our region. Their domestic brutality reflects their external posture. India must factor this in while navigating its relationship. Foreign policy can't be divorced from human rights entirely.

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