A surgeon working in hospitals in Tehran during the brutal crackdown on anti-government protests in Iran in early January has revealed harrowing details of what he described as a mass killing of civilians by the regime’s security forces.
Details of the Crackdown
The physician, who requested anonymity for security reasons, provided a testimony to The Guardian and the Center for Human Rights in Iran detailing scenes of absolute chaos in hospitals as hundreds of gunshot wound victims arrived in waves during the night of January 8th. Prior to that night, the sound of the city was normal, but quickly changed as communications across the country were cut.
The nature of the injuries shifted dramatically around 8:00 PM, coinciding with the nationwide communications blackout. Before the blackout, the surgeon received photos via WhatsApp of injuries from birdshot, described as painful but survivable. After 8:00 PM, the incoming patients had sustained injuries from high-caliber, military-grade ammunition designed to penetrate the body.
Overwhelmed Hospitals
Hospitals quickly became overwhelmed, with operating rooms filled with patients suffering from chest, abdomen, and pelvic wounds. Many of the shootings occurred at close range, resulting in catastrophic damage. One hospital that typically performs two emergency surgeries per night carried out approximately 18 between 9:00 PM and 6:00 AM. The surgeon, with experience in disaster zones, stated he had never witnessed such a scale of trauma.
The surgeon also reported hearing the sounds of heavy weaponry, including DShK Soviet-designed machine guns, being used in the streets. He noted that hospitals began receiving official letters from security institutions demanding information on patients, creating an atmosphere of fear that discouraged many wounded individuals from seeking medical attention.
The Scale of the Violence
While lacking official figures, the surgeon estimated that the death toll far exceeded public reports. He described hospitals receiving an unusually high number of fatalities – eight bodies in a single night at a hospital that typically sees one death in 24 hours. Groups of human rights organizations estimate that more than 5,000 people have died during the three days of brutal repression.
The surgeon concluded that the true extent of the violence remains hidden from the public. He stated that what occurred was “much beyond what has been told to the public” and that “most of it happened in the dark.”
Frequently Asked Questions
What type of injuries were surgeons treating?
The surgeon described treating injuries from both birdshot and high-caliber, military-grade ammunition. After communications were cut, the injuries shifted to gunshot wounds designed to penetrate the body, often to the chest, abdomen, and pelvis.
Why were communications cut during the crackdown?
According to the surgeon’s testimony, communications were cut across the country around 8:00 PM on January 8th, coinciding with the escalation of violence and the shift to using military-grade ammunition.
What happened to hospitals that treated wounded protestors?
Hospitals began receiving official letters from security institutions demanding information about patients, including their names, details of their injuries, and other identifying information. This created an environment of fear and discouraged some wounded individuals from seeking medical care.
What further steps might the Iranian government take to control information and suppress dissent in the wake of these events?
