Death toll protests in Iran may vary from 5,000 to 16,500, reports say

The number of victims of protests in Iran may be significantly higher than official data suggest.

Reuters, citing a source, reports that at least 5,000 people were killed during the protests in the country, including around 500 members of the security forces.

Meanwhile, the British newspaper The Sunday Times, citing testimony from Iranian medical workers, provides much higher estimates. It says the death toll from the protests may have reached at least 16,500 people, while about 330,000 individuals suffered injuries of varying severity.

The discrepancy in figures is attributed to limited access to information, pressure on medical personnel, and the absence of transparent official statistics. International human rights organizations continue to urge Iranian authorities to conduct an independent investigation and ensure access to reliable information about the situation.

The U.S.-based HRANA rights group said on January 17 the death toll had reached 3,308, with another 4,382 cases under review. The group said it had confirmed more than 24,000 arrests.

By Khagan Isayev