Roy Topol

On Monday, January 12, Tavaana published a letter from a doctor living in Tehran, revealing the scale of the mass killing of civilians and protesters during Iran’s total internet shutdown: “[…] I hope you’re well and managing to stay calm during these painful days of complete isolation and uncertainty. Unfortunately, all contact with the outside world has been cut off — internet, landlines, and mobile phones. Only a few hours a day, limited internal mobile calls are possible. Our only window to the world is satellite news channels. I’m writing this so you can urgently share it wherever you can. What we hear from BBC, Iran International, and other satellite networks shows that the reality in Iran is still not understood. They keep saying security forces are hesitant or weaker than before, and that mass killing hasn’t happened. The truth is exactly the opposite. The reason the videos being aired don’t show massacres is because they’re mostly filmed in streets where protests were never expected. In areas where real clashes and killings happen, filming is practically impossible. Every night, Islamic Republic forces brutally attack one or two neighborhoods, creating literal rivers of blood. With extreme hatred and motivation, they open fire on defenseless people — mostly teenagers and very young adults — as if they were attacking the heart of an enemy army. About the death toll: colleagues working in different hospitals across Tehran report that around 30 lifeless bodies are brought to their hospitals every night — even to private hospitals. I have no exact count of those who later die from bleeding, but one of their tactics is stabbing people with knives and machetes, then leaving them to bleed to death. Based on what I’ve heard from colleagues and from families now mourning their loved ones, I estimate that over the past two or three nights alone, more than 3,000 people have been killed in Tehran. In other cities, I believe at least 10,000 have been killed. In many smaller towns, I’ve heard figures of 20 to 30 deaths each. Two nights ago in Tehran, a doctor sitting inside his car was beaten on the neck with a baton. He suffered a spinal cord injury and is now on a ventilator — if he’s still alive. Last night, I personally saw 50–60 motorcyclists driving through Keshavarz Boulevard and Enghelab Square (in Tehran), blasting war chants through loudspeakers, carrying Hezbollah flags, speeding through the streets and spreading fear among everyone. If anyone is going to help us, even tomorrow may be too late. If the balance of power shifts even slightly in favor of the Islamic Republic due to people’s fear or exhaustion, they could kill 100,000 people overnight without hesitation. I beg you: drop everything today and get this information to news agencies, human rights organizations, the U.S. State Department, the President of the United States, journalists — anyone who might be able to help the people of Iran. Let the world hear us before it’s too late. Tell them that this time, the mullahs have sealed the dark fate of our generation with the red blood of our youth. I love you. Take care of yourself. I trust you will do this well.” @IHRDC #DigitalBlackoutIran #iran_strikes #iran_human_rights