Protests have been surging in Iran as the nation grows increasingly uneasy due to economic issues and anti-government sentiment. These demonstrations are nothing new for the Iranian people, as unrest has lingered since the 2022 death of Mahsa Amini, who was allegedly killed by police for failing to wear a hijab, according to AP News. However, even though this is something the nation has experienced before, there are differences to note in this current wave of protests. The regime is receiving significant pushback from its citizens as inflation spreads across the nation, in particular affecting Tehran’s bazaars, where the recent protests arose. Those calling for regime change are facing crackdowns by authorities, according to CNN, and the death toll among the protestors continues to rise. 

This is one of the largest protests to affect the region in years, leading to a very severe reaction by the regime. A representative from Amnesty International stated to ABC news that authorities are “relentlessly firing at thousands of protesters and chasing after them, even as they were fleeing.” This raises major human rights concerns, as thousands of lives have been taken due to the regime’s reaction and the continuing suppression. The regime has also taken measures to impose internet blackouts according to Brookings, as a method to further crack down on those challenging authority. Despite these measures, protesters continue to take to the streets and organize more loudly than ever. Their voices have captured the attention of international actors; High Commissioner Volker Turk at the U.N Human Rights Council called on “the Iranian authorities to reconsider, to pull back, and to end their brutal repression,” as reported by Reuters. The regime has not backed down in its pursuit of citizens they brand as “‘rioters’ and foreign backed ‘mercenaries’” as reported by CNN. Tensions continue to rise as the growing death toll sends an alarming signal to international actors, with many nationals crying for help to stop the violence.

Any justification used to suppress and commit violence against human beings, as seen in this instance, is harmful to those at risk and our broader perception of human rights. Watching a regime continuously take these actions against their own citizens disrupts and dissolves any level of peace and security in the nation. The extermination of those dissenting against the regime showcases a violent escalation and lack of integrity in finding alternative channels of governance, especially given that this is not the first time the regime has received backlash from its citizens on its decisions in Iran. If anything, the current protests show an increased level of frustration among Iranians who have been bearing the brunt of the regime’s brutality. These actions must be seen for what they are: “the worst mass murder in the contemporary history of Iran” as stated by a former U.N. prosecutor in Reuters. There should be an absolute and indisputable condemnation of these actions by the regime and a greater respect for the human rights of protesters across the nation. 

This movement is the result of built up exhaustion from the prolonged mistreatment by the Iranian regime, which denies any outlet for dissent among their citizens. Rather than amend its government actions, the regime has taken it upon themselves to instill fear and tyranny to suppress opposing opinions. Economic crises and rising levels of poverty among various provinces in Iran have intensified over the years. According to Brookings, the protests began because of these economic conditions but quickly evolved into what we see now as widespread anti-regime demonstrations. 

The protests and growing unrest has affected most provinces in Iran and has had ripple effects all over the nation. The regime’s response has consisted of nothing but violence, suppression and a lack of respect for the human rights of its citizens. International actors around the world are calling for humane treatment of the protestors and for the regime to reconsider its actions. Thousands of lives have already been lost, and more are at risk every day that the protests persist without peaceful mediation.