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PoliticsIran

Iran protests persist amid internet blackout, mass arrests

Gasia Ohanes | Matthew Mannion
January 13, 2026

According to activists, the death toll from nationwide protests in Iran surpassed 2,000 people on Tuesday. Human rights experts have condemned the regime in Tehran for using "lethal force" against demonstrators.

https://p.dw.com/p/56mBZ

Iran is facing its deadliest unrest in years amid a nationwide internet blackout. Verified footage shows rows of body bags outside a morgue near Tehran, while protests erupt in cities like Urmia and the capital. Authorities have detained thousands, charging some with "waging war against God," a crime punishable by death. UN experts condemn Iran's use of lethal force, as activists rely on Starlink to bypass censorship.

Gasia Ohanes
Gasia Ohanes Berlin-based multimedia journalist and TV reporter covering international affairsgasiaohanes
Matthew Mannion Reporter, producer and editor, based in Berlin