Documentation Released on the Catastrophic Dimensions of the Bloody Suppression; Continuation of Iran's Nationwide Uprising on the Fifteenth Day

The national and widespread uprising in Iran entered its fifteenth day on Sunday, with human rights sources and reports received by Voice of America indicating that the bloody suppression of protesters in the streets of various cities has entered a new and unprecedented phase of violence. Images released from the forensic center in Kahrizak, Tehran, show the bodies of a large number of those killed during the revolutionary uprising. In a series of recorded videos, many citizens are seen examining the bodies of the deceased to identify their relatives and loved ones. In one of these videos, images of the faces and lifeless bodies of the deceased are broadcast from forensic monitors, and citizens are lined up in front of them to identify their loved ones. Other videos have captured the bodies of protesters on the ground, while their family members search among them for their loved ones. Additionally, other footage sent from various parts of Iran on Thursday, which reached Voice of America today due to internet outages, shows shocking scenes of the Islamic Republic's suppressive forces shooting directly at protesters, resulting in the deaths of many citizens. According to these images and reports, the government's suppressive forces have widely used lethal military weapons to shoot at protesters in the streets. In some instances, rapid gunfire at protesters has been recorded. The intensity of the violence has reached a level that observers say could be one of the bloodiest suppressions in contemporary Iranian history. However, due to a complete internet shutdown and severe communication disruptions across the country, access to independent information and determining the exact number of casualties is impossible. The nationwide internet blackout that began on Thursday has effectively isolated Iran from the outside world and is considered one of the main tools of the Islamic Republic for concealing the true dimensions of the suppression. These developments occur at a time when Donald Trump, the President of the United States, has repeatedly warned about the massacre of protesters by the Islamic Republic and its repressive apparatus. He has stated clearly and firmly that if the Iranian government begins killing protesters, the United States will practically assist the people and target the Islamic Republic. He emphasized, 'We will hit them very hard, exactly where it hurts the most. This does not mean sending ground troops, but it will be a very heavy blow.' According to the latest report from the Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), the number of fatalities in the nationwide protests in Iran has risen to at least 538; this figure includes 490 protesters and 48 security forces members. This human rights organization has also reported the arrest of over 10,600 individuals during the protests. Meanwhile, the Iran Human Rights Organization, in a report published on January 21, 1404, announced that it has confirmed the deaths of at least 192 protesters through direct sources or at least two independent sources; this figure is considered the absolute minimum of the death toll, and the actual number is likely much higher. According to this report, 9 of the deceased were under 18 years old. This organization has warned that after the complete internet shutdown, the massacre of protesters has noticeably intensified, with the highest number of fatalities occurring on Thursday and Friday, January 18 and 19. Furthermore, reports of over 217 deaths of protesters registered in six hospitals in Tehran have heightened concerns about the true extent of this suppression. Alongside the street killings, widespread threats of execution against detainees have raised even more serious concerns. The Attorney General of the Islamic Republic has labeled the protesters as 'mohareb' (enemies of God), an accusation that under Islamic Republic laws can lead to the death penalty. Simultaneously, media outlets affiliated with the Revolutionary Guards have reported widespread arrests of protesters, labeling them with vague and false titles such as 'rioters,' 'armed,' or 'linked to Israel'; accusations that have previously led to heavy sentences and executions. Despite this unprecedented suppression, reports received from Voice of America indicate that the nationwide uprising of the Iranian people against the Islamic Republic continues. Images recorded on Saturday show the presence of protesters in the streets and the continuation of protests in various cities; a sign that despite the killings, arrests, and communication disruptions, protests have not subsided, and large segments of society continue to stand against the government. Observers believe that what is happening in Iran today represents one of the most serious challenges to the survival of the Islamic Republic in over four decades.