A disturbing new video has surfaced from a morgue in Tehran, providing a harrowing glimpse into the government’s violent response to the ongoing protests in Iran. The footage, analyzed by BBC Verify and BBC Persian, shows rows of bodies, blood-soaked floors, and crowds of people searching for their loved ones.
Forensic examination of the video reveals nearly 200 bodies laid throughout the mortuary complex, many with visible wounds. One victim has been identified as a young as 16 years old. The protests have spread to more than 68 towns and cities across Iran, though the true scale of the unrest is likely much higher due to the near-total internet blackout imposed by the government.
The number of casualties remains unclear, with estimates ranging from over 2,500 according to the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) to 2,000 as claimed by an Iranian official, who blamed “terrorists” for the deaths.
The video, filmed on January 10th, was posted online by Vahid, an Iranian activist and social media influencer based in the US. It shows the man navigating the vast mortuary complex, describing the scene as “the apocalypse.” The footage captures rows of body bags on the floor, some fully zipped up while others are partially or entirely uncovered, revealing the victims’ faces and injuries.
Several of the bodies have visible wounds, with two appearing to be soaked in blood and another with a deep stomach injury. Some of the body bags have identifying information written on them, including names, national ID numbers, dates of birth and death, and in some cases, the victim’s father’s name.
The date of death on three of the male victims’ body bags is recorded as January 9th, while one bag shows the date of birth as March 21, 2009, indicating the victim was a 16-year-old.
The footage also captures officials inspecting the bodies, taking swabs from the victims, and interacting with potential family members. Eyewitness accounts suggest that hospitals have been overwhelmed by the number of casualties, leading to the transfer of bodies to the mortuary.
HRANA has reported that 2,403 protesters, 147 people affiliated with the government, 9 civilians, and 12 children have been killed since the unrest began on December 28th. The video shows the anguish of the crowd, with cries and wails heard as people mourn the loss of their loved ones.
This disturbing footage serves as a harrowing testament to the brutality of the Iranian government’s crackdown on the ongoing protests. As the world watches, the true scale of the violence and the human toll remains shrouded in the internet blackout, leaving many to wonder how much more suffering the people of Iran will endure.