Kermanshah – Since late December 2025, Iran has been experiencing a wave of widespread protests sparked by a severe economic crisis and currency collapse. These protests quickly transformed into demonstrations against the regime, entering 2026 with even greater momentum amidst harsh repression and a complete internet blackout.

Since January 8th, as popular solidarity has surged across Iran through strikes and widespread protests, the city of Kermanshah has witnessed increasing participation in these movements. Authorities have resorted to cutting off internet service in an attempt to disrupt the flow of information and restrict free communication. However, this measure has failed to deter protesters from continuing their resistance against the repressive forces. On-the-ground observations at the protest sites indicate that residents have remained steadfast in their protest stance with unwavering determination.

On the same day, Kermanshah and neighboring cities witnessed widespread protests and strikes. Local reports indicated a large number of casualties among the demonstrators. According to eyewitness accounts, dozens of civilians were killed in several areas. While the official figures appear limited, they are alarming and suggest the true death toll may be much higher than reported by the media. Many protesters confirmed witnessing at least one person killed or injured in various locations.

Intentional Shooting

An eyewitness who escaped arrest reported being shot multiple times by a security officer. He asserted that security forces were firing indiscriminately with the intent to kill protesters. A protester who was shot with a shotgun in the Golestan neighborhood stated that he was targeted simply for repeatedly honking his car horn at the Golestan intersection.

Field reports indicate that authorities not only deployed military forces to quell the protests, but also sent large numbers of plainclothes security personnel into the streets and alleyways. An eyewitness reported that when he shouted "Death to the dictator" from his window, several women in the street shouted that his house had been identified, suggesting that the government was using plainclothes women to identify protesters.

A source close to the Kermanshah police department revealed that the department had ordered the collection of CCTV footage from several shops overlooking the protest sites, with the aim of using it to identify leaders and protesters. Authorities also resorted to using drones to monitor and gather information in areas such as Simari Dom, Nobahar, and Hafiziyeh.

Protests Continue

Despite the stifling atmosphere of repression, the protests continued to escalate. Internet service remained cut off, and mobile phone towers were out of coverage, effectively putting phones on airplane mode and hindering communication among protesters. Nevertheless, citizens received threatening text messages from government sources, labeling the protesters as "terrorist groups" and warning families to monitor their children. These messages represented a clear attempt to justify the violence and absolve the authorities of responsibility for the killing of protesters by their security forces.

A week after the internet blackout, the strike by merchants and marketers in Kermanshah continued. To downplay the protests and demonstrate the strength of its supporters, the government called on people to participate in rallies via text message. Eyewitnesses say that most of the participants in these government-organized rallies were government employees, military personnel, and their families.

Hidden Wounded and Unofficial Detention Centers

Amid the prevailing atmosphere of repression and suffocation in Iran, a large number of people have been killed and seriously injured. Many of the wounded are forced to receive treatment at home for fear of arrest in hospitals, which puts their lives at grave risk.

Eyewitnesses in Kermanshah confirmed that government forces have transformed civilian sites, such as Esteghlal High School in Nowbahar, the Physical Education Center, and the Correctional Facility, into security bases. Detainees and the injured are initially taken to these centers before being transferred to other locations for interrogation and torture.

Since the outbreak of the protests, there have been reports of widespread arrest campaigns. The authorities have exploited these events as a pretext to pursue civil society activists in their homes, as well as individuals already under surveillance. The protests have become a cover for their physical elimination amidst the chaos.

Cutting Off Communication with the World

This trajectory demonstrates that the complete internet blackout, coupled with the government's recent move to confiscate satellite dishes, is part of a systematic plan to isolate Iran from the world and pave the way for even more brutal massacres. These measures not only reflect the severity of internal repression but also reveal the authorities' efforts to impose their official narrative and prevent the truth from reaching the outside world. With independent and international media absent from the scene, eyewitness accounts and local reports become all the more crucial.

Conversely, the continued strikes and protests in Kermanshah and other cities stand as evidence of the public's steadfastness in its demands despite immense pressure. This could lead to the emergence of local resistance networks and strengthen social solidarity. The government, for its part, resorts to its security and propaganda apparatus to portray these movements as "riots" or "terrorist activities" in an attempt to legitimize its repression in the eyes of the public.

Ultimately, isolating Iran from the world is not just a government tool for mass murder, but also a systematic attempt to erase witnesses and conceal credible evidence of crimes committed against protesters.