On Monday, February 2, Sanam, a young doctor in Tehran, who preferred to use a pseudonym, was spending a quiet night at home when security forces burst into her apartment. The previous day, the intelligence services unit (herasat, in Persian) at her hospital had asked for the names and identity numbers of wounded protesters who had come in for treatment. Sanam replied: “I do not have this information.” On Monday morning, four police officers broke down her door and threatened to kill her unless she cooperated within two or three days. She has since left her home and now lives in fear of arrest.

Since the mass protests that took place in Iran from January 8 to 11 to call for the fall of the Islamic Republic, the authorities have tightened their grip on doctors and medical workers who care for the injured. In its February 2 edition, the reformist daily Shargh reported the arrest of 25 doctors and nurses. Some names have been made public by their families, others by colleagues.

Medical staff were the first to witness an unprecedented crackdown. According to the Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), the deaths of at least 6,305 protesters have been confirmed, and 17,091 cases are under review, which could bring the total to more than 23,000 victims.

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