Over 2,000 Have Died Protesting Against the Islamic Republic

Iran Open Data’s research indicates that the Iranian government has suppressed at least 16 major protests in Iran over the past 45 years, resulting in at least 2,400 fatalities. These casualties include protesters who took to the streets to pursue their political, economic, and social demands.

Chart Link

Included in this count are the two major protests immediately following the 1979 revolution and the establishment of the Islamic Republic, five bloody protests in the 1970s, two in the 1980s, six major protests in the 2010s, and the nationwide protests last year after the killing of Mahsa Amini.  

The highest number of casualties occurred in the more recent major protests: first in 2019, and then following the killing of Mahsa Amini last year.

Link to all pages of the timeline. 

1-Women's protests against compulsory hijab
The first protest in the history of the Islamic Republic occurred two weeks after the revolution and it was about the imposition of compulsory hijab. On the 7th of Esfand, 1357 (26 February 1979), thousands of women took to the streets.

In the absence of official police, citizen militias loyal to Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini took the initiative to violently suppress these protests. Nevertheless, women managed to pressure Khomeini into temporarily canceling the order for compulsory hijab.

There is no report of anyone being killed in that protest.

2-The bloody settling of scores in Khordad 1360 (June 1981)
On the 30th of Khordad, 1360 (20 June 1981), the first major street clashes occurred, followed by a violent crackdown. The suppression of these protests led to the consolidation of power within the Islamic Republic, with control being seized by clerics close to Khomeini.

The protests were initiated by the People's Mujahedin Organization of Iran (MEK) and the supporters of Abolhassan Banisadr against the president's impeachment plan. These protests lasted for two days in Tehran, Isfahan, Mashhad, Ahvaz, Arak, Zahedan, Sanandaj, Hamadan, Bandar Abbas, and Urmieh.

The exact number of casualties is not known. Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, who played a significant role in sidelining Banisadr, only reported 16 deaths in the protests on 30th of Khordad in Tehran. Some sources have estimated the death toll at 30.

3-Protest by marginalized communities: Tollab neighborhood, Mashhad, spring of 1371
On the 9th of Khordad, 1371 (30 May 1992), a decade after the last crackdown in Iran, the flames of protests were ignited again, this time in the Tollab neighborhood on the outskirts of Mashhad.

The story began with a protest against the demolition of a house. In a matter of hours, it spread through the entire city due to the deep-seated economic and social dissatisfaction of its residents. 

At least 9 people, including 6 police officers, were killed in the protests, while another 4 were executed, according to official reports.

After 2 days, the Tollab neighborhood protests in Mashhad were crushed.

4-Bloody protest in Qazvin: Summer 1373 (1994)
On the 12th of Mordad, 1373 (3 August 1994), the people of Qazvin protested against the parliament's opposition to Qazvin’s bid to become independent from the province of Zanjan by blocking off road access.

There is no official information available about this protest. However, unofficial sources suggest that the clashes resulted in the killing of several dozen people, and lasted two to three days.

Ultimately, the Revolutionary Guard violently suppressed the protests. There is no official casualties figure. Unofficial sources report that several dozen people were killed.

5-The poor protest in Islamshahr: Spring 1374 (1995)
On the 15th of Farvardin, 1374 (4 April 1995), a group of people staged a protest against the increase in transportation fares, poverty, and water shortages.

The police and the Revolutionary Guard cracked down on these protests. The exact number of casualties is not known. Government sources confirmed one death, while the late opposition politician Daryush Foruhar stated in an interview with foreign media that the number of casualties was at least 50. Amnesty International reported months after the uprising that 10 people had lost their lives during these protests.

6-University neighborhoods protests crackdown; 18 Tir, 1378 (9 July 1999)
The evening of the 18th of Tir, 1378 is an unforgettable day in the contemporary history of Iran. On this date, police officers and plainclothes agents violently suppressed the student protests against the closure of the newspaper Salam by attacking Tehran University dorms.

The protests continued for 6 days in Tehran.

On the 20th of Tir, a protest in Tabriz by University students was also violently suppressed by Basij forces and plainclothes agents.

Official sources confirmed the death of one person in the University Quarters, but human rights sources claim that at least 7 people were killed in these protests.

7-Protests in Ahvaz, Farvardin 1384 (April 2005) 
The publication of a letter attributed to the National Security Council regarding the relocation and change in the demographic composition of the Arab population in Khuzestan became the catalyst for four days of unrest in Ahvaz and some other cities in Khuzestan.

Seyyed Mohammad Khatami, the President at the time, denied the authenticity of the letter, but angry protesters in various cities in Khuzestan took to the streets. These protests were violently suppressed by law enforcement and security forces. Official authorities confirmed the death of one person, but human rights sources reported at least 50 casualties.

8-Protests of 1388 (2009): “Where is My Vote?”
The controversial 1388 (2009) presidential election set the stage for one of the largest and bloodiest protests in the history of the Islamic Republic. The protests began the day after the election in Tehran and at least 15 other cities and continued for six months.

The police, Basij, and the Revolutionary Guard suppressed the unrest. According to documented reports, at least 78 protesters were killed. The 30th of Khordad (20 June) and the Ashura holiday (27 December) were the bloodiest days of that year's protests.

9-Khuzestan Again: Farvardin 1390 (March 2011)
The 26th of Farvardin, 1390 (15 April 2011) marked the sixth anniversary of the Ahvaz, Hamidiyeh, and Shush protests. It was also one of the bloodiest days in contemporary Iranian history. This day is known in the Iranian protest calendar as Yowm al-Ghadhab, or the Day of Anger.

As the Arab Spring gathered steam throughout the Middle East, large-scale protests were held in Ahvaz, Hamidiyeh, and Shush. These protests met with a violent response by law enforcement and security forces. At least 12 people were killed.

In late Dey and early Bahman of the same year (January-February 2012), further protests took place in these three cities, and were also violently suppressed. Two protesters lost their lives in Ministry of Intelligence custody.

10-Economic Protests: Dey 1396 (December 2017)
On the 7th of Dey, 1396 (28 December 2017), several months after the reelection of President Hassan Rouhani, extensive protests were held in Mashhad. Protesters expressed their grievances over the worsening economic crisis.

The scope of the protests quickly expanded to the extent that, according to officials, approximately 160 cities across the country experienced unrest. 

These protests were violently suppressed. Official sources did not provide the casualty figures, but over 50 people were reportedly killed during the 10 days of protests.

11-Golestan-e Haftom: Suppression of Gonabadi Dervishes
The news about the house arrest of Noor Ali Tabandeh, the leader of the Gonabadi Dervishes, in early Bahman 1396 (January 2018) led to scattered gatherings of dervishes on Golestan-e Haftom Street near his house in Tehran.

On the last day of Bahman (18 February 2018), the protest escalated after the detention and beating of some protesters and the presence of Basij and the Revolutionary Guard forces. Iranian government sources reported the abduction of several Basij members and security agents.

The protests ultimately came to an end on the first of Esfand after the beating and detention of almost all the protesters. During these confrontations, 6 individuals lost their lives, including 3 law enforcement officers, 2 Basij members, and 1 dervish.

12-Bloody Protests: Aban 1398 (November 2019)
On the 24th of Aban, 1398 (15 November 2019), the increase in gasoline prices laid the groundwork for one of the largest and bloodiest protests in the history of the Islamic Republic. The protests began on the morning of Saturday, the 24th of Aban, in over 100 cities. These protests immediately resulted in a state-sponsored crackdown. The scale of the violence increased further after the internet was shut down.

Reuters News, citing anonymous sources, reported a death toll of up to 1,500 in the November protests. Official Iranian sources confirmed 225 deaths, while human rights organizations documented over 300 deaths.

13-Massacre of Fuel Smugglers and Protesters in Sistan and Baluchestan
In Esfand 1399 (February 2021), at least seven cities in Sistan and Baluchestan Province witnessed protests by the disgruntled population. These protests were met with a violent crackdown by law enforcement and security forces. The cities included Saravan, Iranshahr, Ghal'eh Bid, Shurou, Zahedan, Sarjangal, and Mirjaveh.

Protests started on the 4th of Esfand (22 February 2021) with an armed attack by the Revolutionary Guards on fuel smugglers in the demilitarized zone near the Askan border. One day later, the families of the smugglers and other residents in Saravan held a demonstration and clashed with security and law enforcement forces.

These protests, which rapidly spread to other cities in Sistan and Baluchestan, finally came to an end on the 9th of Esfand (27 February 2021) after a violent crackdown by the authorities. Human rights organizations have reported that 37 protesters were killed, and dozens of others injured during these protests. Including the fuel smugglers, a total of 51 were killed in the incident.

14-Gheyzanieh Protests: 3 Khordad 1399 (23 May 2020)
The protesters in Gheyzanieh, on the 3rd of Khordad, 1399, demanded access to drinking water. During the anniversary of the liberation of Khorramshahr, protesters blocked the Ahvaz-Ramhormoz highway and demanded the resumption of a stalled drinking water project.

This protest was quickly suppressed by the police, who fired rubber bullets and tear gas at protesters. No protesters were reportedly killed, but according to official sources, at least 6 protesters, including a child, were injured by the police. Unofficial reports suggest that the number of injured individuals exceeded the official figures.

15-The Water Crisis and Protests of 1400 (2021)
The escalation of the water crisis in 1400 led to protests in various parts of Iran, particularly in Isfahan and Khuzestan.

In Aban and Azar of 1400 October-November 2021), Isfahan became the scene of widespread protests against water shortages and the redirecting of the Zayandehrud river. Human rights sources state that it is likely three people were killed in these protests. 

These water-related protests in 1400 were not isolated. During the summer of 1400, at least 14 cities in Khuzestan province and 12 other cities across Iran witnessed major protests in response to a widespread water scarcity crisis. These protests resulted in the documented deaths of at least 14 people.

16-Protests Erupt Following the Killing of Mahsa Gina Amini
The killing of Mahsa Gina Amini in Morality Police custody led to the largest, longest, and bloodiest protests in the history of the Islamic Republic. 

These protests began on 25 Shahrivar 1401 (16 September 2022), with scattered gatherings in front of Kasra Hospital in Tehran. They continued for months across the country.

During these protests, thousands were arrested and hundreds were injured, with many sustaining eye damage. According to human rights organizations, at least 537 people were killed.