Where Are the Bodies of the Deceased Women? Revisiting Shocking Videos from the Forensic Center in Kahrizak

Videos of a multitude of deceased protesters at the Kahrizak forensic center in Tehran have been released, indicating widespread killings by the repressive forces of the Islamic Republic. The Telegram channel VahidOnline, which published these videos, quotes the sender stating that the date is Saturday, January 20, 1404 (Persian calendar), and "the bodies you see are being dumped into containers, with over two thousand bodies just on that day lying on the ground; however, by the time we arrived, one entire container was filled with bodies." One notable point in these videos is that all the bodies awaiting delivery are male, raising the question of where the bodies of the deceased women are. In one of the videos, a crying man is seen asking a woman, presumably a doctor, for permission to receive the body of his "sister." The woman, wearing a white coat and holding a list, states that the bodies of women must be taken inside to have their "wombs examined," thus refusing to hand over the deceased woman's body. This action seems to be aimed at checking whether the deceased women were pregnant or not. CBS News, which reviewed these videos, reports that in one video, at least 366 bodies, possibly over 400, of the deceased protesters are piled up, showing severe injuries on their bodies. Due to the Islamic Republic cutting off internet access and phone communications with the outside world, it is not possible to accurately estimate the number of dead, but media and human rights groups report widespread killings of several thousand people. CBS News estimates the death toll to be at least 12,000 and possibly up to 20,000. Experts warn that this "digital blackout" makes documenting the killings and human rights violations difficult and provides cover for security forces to use deadly force against protesters with less media scrutiny. Donald Trump, the President of the United States, has repeatedly warned about the killings of protesters by the Islamic Republic and its repressive apparatus. He has stated clearly that if the Iranian government begins killing protesters, the United States will take practical steps to 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." On Tuesday, January 23, Trump also issued a clear message on the social media platform Truth Social, urging Iranian protesters to continue their protests and take over institutions; "help is on the way." In this message directed at "patriotic Iranians," he wrote: "Continue to protest and seize your institutions." He also urged protesters to record and preserve the names of the "murderers and oppressors" and warned that these individuals would "pay a heavy price." The U.S. President further announced that in response to the killings of protesters, he has canceled "all meetings and calls with Iranian officials." He stressed that this decision will continue until the "senseless killings of protesters cease." Trump concluded his message with a clear tone: "Help is on the way." Hours later, during a speech in Michigan, he reiterated his message to Iranian protesters. Despite this unprecedented repression, videos shared on social media indicate that the widespread and extensive uprising of the Iranian people against the Islamic Republic continues despite the killings, arrests, and communication cuts. This shows that the 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.