Iran’s Hospitals Under Siege: A Disturbing Pattern of Repression
Recent reports from Iran reveal a chilling pattern of interference by security forces within hospitals during and after the recent protests. The crackdown, reaching its peak on January 8th and 9th, has been the deadliest since the Islamic Republic took power in 1979, with the Human Rights Activists News Agency confirming over 7,000 deaths and investigating thousands more.
Systematic Obstruction of Medical Care
According to interviews with doctors in Iran and abroad, corroborated by human rights groups and verified videos, plainclothes security agents have been systematically monitoring and obstructing medical care provided to protesters. Agents have reportedly blocked resuscitation attempts, intimidated medical staff, seized injured protesters and removed the deceased in body bags. Dozens of doctors have been arrested.
One doctor in Rasht recounted an incident where agents prevented medical staff from resuscitating a man shot in the head at close range, ultimately allowing him to die before removing his body in a black bag. This wasn’t an isolated case; similar accounts have emerged from multiple cities.
Hospitals as Battlegrounds
The level of brutality and militarization of health facilities is unprecedented, even for a country with a history of crackdowns on dissent. In Gorgan, snipers were reportedly positioned on a hospital roof, firing at approaching patients. Videos verified by the Associated Press show security agents forcibly entering hospitals, firing weapons, and yelling at people.
The Iran Human Rights Center, based in Oslo, has documented numerous instances of security agents preventing medical care, removing patients from ventilators, and harassing doctors.
Doctors Forced to Operate in the Shadows
Faced with intimidation and arrest, some doctors have been forced to provide care in clandestine settings. A general surgeon in Tehran described transforming a cosmetic procedure clinic into a trauma ward, treating over 90 wounded individuals over four days with limited resources. He and his colleagues resorted to using makeshift splints and weaker analgesics due to the lack of supplies.
To protect patients from arrest, doctors altered hospital records, misdiagnosing gunshot wounds as accidental injuries. Despite these efforts, some health care workers who volunteered at the hidden clinic have since been arrested.
Government Denial and International Concern
The Iranian government has blamed the protests on “terrorists” backed by foreign powers. Health Ministry spokesman Hossein Kermanpour denied reports of interference with medical care, calling them “untrue” and “fundamentally impossible.”
The Scale of the Crackdown
The crackdown has resulted in at least 79 health care professionals being detained, including medical students. Many have been accused of resisting security agents or providing medical care to protesters. Amnesty International has reported a significant increase in targeted, close-range shootings of protesters compared to previous crackdowns.
FAQ
Q: What is the Iranian government’s response to these allegations?
A: The government denies interfering with medical care and blames the protests on foreign-backed terrorists.
Q: How many protesters are estimated to have been killed?
A: The Human Rights Activists News Agency has confirmed over 7,000 deaths, although the government acknowledges more than 3,000.
Q: What are doctors doing to protect wounded protesters?
A: Some doctors are altering medical records and providing care in secret clinics to shield patients from arrest.
Q: What organizations are documenting these events?
A: The Associated Press, Amnesty International, the Iran Human Rights Center, and Mnemonic are among the organizations documenting the crackdown.
Did you realize? Sarah El Deeb, the Associated Press reporter covering this story, is a fluent Persian speaker with nearly a decade of experience reporting on Iran.
Pro Tip: For further information on human rights violations in Iran, consult reports from organizations like Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch.
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