Turmoil in Iran: Over 50,000 Detained Amid Nationwide Unrest

Since the start of the massive protest wave in Iran, at least 23,000 criminal cases have been initiated against demonstrators. According to Radio Farda, citing representatives of the national judicial system, the crackdown follows weeks of intense clashes across the country.

A judicial spokesperson stated that significant damage was inflicted on state facilities during the unrest, including attacks on 729 police stations and 120 centers belonging to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Mass detention operations have been carried out in every region of the country.

The U.S.-based organization Human Rights Activists in Iran (HRAI/HRANA) suggests the situation is far more severe than official reports indicate. According to their report as of February 15:

• 53,552 people have been detained (including 144 students);
• 11,053 people have been formally summoned to court.

HRAI data confirms the deaths of 7,015 individuals to date, with 6,508 of them identified as protesters. Furthermore, the fate of more than 11,700 people is still being verified, while the number of injured has reached 25,845.

The anti-government protests initially erupted on December 28, 2025. What began as a public outcry against an economic crisis and soaring inflation quickly evolved into a broader political movement with slogans targeting the ruling leadership. Currently, the unrest has spread across the entire territory of Iran.