Iranian security forces have been accused of the indiscriminate targeting of civilians, including children, during a nationwide wave of protests, with human rights groups reporting at least three minors killed and dozens more arrested.
Nationwide Unrest and Escalating Violence
The protests, sparked by the collapse of Iran's currency and soaring living costs, have now spread to at least 78 cities and 222 locations. Demonstrators are openly calling for an end to the regime, according to the US-based monitoring group Human Rights Activists in Iran (HRAI). The unrest has continued over the weekend despite a severe crackdown, following Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei's dismissal of protesters as "rioters".
HRAI states that at least 20 people have been killed and 990 arrested since the demonstrations began eight days ago. Among the dead are several children, highlighting the brutal nature of the state response.
Child Victims of State Violence
The victims include 15-year-old Mostafa Falahi from the city of Azna, who was reportedly shot dead by security forces on 1 January. The Oslo-based Hengaw Organization for Human Rights also confirmed the deaths of 17-year-old Rasul Kadivarian and his 20-year-old brother Reza, killed in Kermanshah on 3 January.
A third child, another 17-year-old whose death was initially reported by state media in Qom, has been corroborated by rights groups, though their identity remains unverified. Skylar Thompson, deputy director of HRAI, told the Guardian that the group has documented the killings and the arrests of at least 44 children.
"These numbers provide clear evidence that youth are present throughout the ongoing protests. The indiscriminate targeting of a civilian population must be widely condemned as a violation of international law," Thompson said.
Witness Accounts of a Brutal Crackdown
Eyewitness testimony paints a harrowing picture of the regime's tactics. A witness from the Malekshahi district in Ilam province described security forces opening fire on a crowd gathered outside a government building. "It felt as if they were shooting at enemies or armed groups. I felt like I was in a war zone," the anonymous source said, reporting multiple injuries and suspected deaths on the spot.
In a deeply alarming development, human rights groups reported that security forces raided the Khomeini hospital in Ilam city, where injured protesters were being treated. Awyar Shekhi from Hengaw stated, "State forces are firing directly at gatherings and protests without regard for whether those targeted are children or adults."
Another witness from Qom confirmed that the presence of teenagers and children did not deter authorities from using pellets, tear gas, and live ammunition. "The whole situation is only getting more deadly," they added.
This crackdown evokes memories of the 2022 Woman, Life, Freedom protests, during which over 500 people, including at least 60 children, were killed. The current unrest underscores the regime's continued willingness to use lethal force against its own citizens, including the young, to quell dissent.
