Media: Iran pressures families of detainees to join pro-government march

Iran’s Intelligence Organisation of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and the Ministry of Intelligence are reportedly exerting pressure on the families of some individuals detained during recent protests, compelling them to participate in a pro-government march marking the 47th anniversary of the Islamic Revolution.

Iran International reports, citing its sources, that security agencies are requiring that the families’ presence at the march be “confirmed,” including through the submission of photographic and video evidence. Sources state that officials are applying threats and psychological pressure, warning that only compliance with these demands could help detained relatives avoid severe punishment — including the death penalty — or secure a reduced sentence.

The latest available figures indicate that more than 50,000 people have been detained in connection with the crackdown on protests across Iran.

The current wave of unrest began in late December 2025, when mass protests erupted amid a worsening economic crisis. The country has been grappling with soaring inflation, a sharp depreciation of the Iranian rial, and rapidly rising prices for food and essential goods.

The demonstrations initially took the form of shop closures and strikes in key commercial districts of Tehran, but they quickly spread to other cities nationwide. Although triggered by economic grievances, the protests soon expanded into a broader political movement, with demonstrators chanting anti-government slogans and demanding fundamental changes to the system of governance.

Authorities responded with a forceful crackdown, deploying security forces, conducting large-scale arrests, and restricting communications. Human rights organisations reported that police and IRGC units used lethal force against protesters in multiple cities.

The unrest has become the deadliest wave of protests in Iran since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, leaving thousands dead, leading to widespread detentions, and drawing increasing international concern over alleged human rights violations.