SuaraGarut – Iran Security Forces Maintain Stance Four Years After Amini Protests
Iranian security forces continue widespread measures across multiple provinces following four years of unrest sparked by the death of Zhina Mahsa Amini in police custody, human rights organizations reported on September 18, 2026.
Demonstrations initially broke out on September 16, 2022, after Amini died following her arrest by Tehran’s morality police. Human rights group HRANA documented demonstrations spanning 31 provinces, 160 cities, and 143 university campuses during the initial protest wave.
Official documentation from HRANA verified at least 530 fatalities during the 2022 demonstrations, including 68 children. State authorities deployed live ammunition, conducted mass arrests, and carried out executions of several detained individuals, including karate champion Mohammad Mehdi Karami and Seyed Mohammad Hosseini.
Subsequent demonstrations in December 2025 and January 2026 expanded significantly despite economic pressures and internet blackouts. UK government data citing HRANA recorded at least 656 gatherings across 201 cities in all 31 provinces during the early 2026 demonstrations.
By March 2026, HRANA recorded information verifying more than 7,000 deaths and over 53,000 arrests tied to the recent protest waves. Human rights organizations noted these figures represent minimum verified cases while thousands of additional reported cases remain under review.