Shirin describes trauma from repression and fear of war in Iran
Updated
Updated · BBC.com · May 10
Shirin describes trauma from repression and fear of war in Iran
6 articles · Updated · BBC.com · May 10
In Tehran, the activist says PTSD has left her left hand partly numb, while more than 50,000 people have been arrested since January protests.
She was detained in 2024 after the Woman, Life, Freedom unrest and now fears renewed arrest, as rights groups report incommunicado detention, torture allegations and executions.
Since the February war, attacks on 18 medical facilities and tens of thousands of Red Crescent helpline calls have strained Iran's mental health system amid expectations repression will worsen.
Caught between state executions and foreign bombs, where can ordinary Iranians now turn for safety?
With a new leader and 600 executions, is Iran's regime stronger or closer to collapse?
As US-led strikes kill thousands, is the world helping or hindering Iran's fight for freedom?
"Over 30,000 Dead: The Scale and Consequences of Iran’s January 2026 Crackdown"
Overview
The January 2026 crackdown in Iran was one of the deadliest in the country’s history, marked by widespread violence and extreme brutality from state security forces. Security forces, including the IRGC and police, were deployed across cities, firing rifles and shotguns at protesters and deliberately targeting heads and torsos to inflict severe injury or death. The government systematically concealed the true scale of casualties, with expert estimates suggesting the real death toll far exceeded official reports. This period saw not only direct violence but also efforts to suppress dissent through intimidation, medical repression, and digital isolation, deepening Iran’s social and economic crisis.