Crimes against humanity by the Islamic Republic of Iran – Hengaw urges international action

Based on our findings, field information, and credible documentation received from independent and reliable sources, Hengaw Organization for Human Rights states that the pattern of repression carried out by the Islamic Republic of Iran during the latest protests of December 2025 contains clear and multiple elements of crimes against humanity, as defined under customary international law and the Statute of the International Criminal Court.

Our investigations show that government forces, acting within a coordinated, widespread, and systematic policy of repression, have committed acts including the premeditated killing of civilian protesters, including children; the extensive and lethal use of force; the establishment of so-called field courts; mass and arbitrary arrests; and the militarization of urban spaces aimed at spreading fear and terror among the population. Numerous corroborating and overlapping reports indicate the occurrence of mass killings of protesters in various parts of the country. Hengaw confirms that more than 2,500 people have been killed across Iran during the recent protests. Our verification team is conducting daily verification of victims’ identities and publishing confirmed names. To date, the identities of 80 individuals have been fully verified and recorded on Hengaw’s platforms.

Within this same framework, documented information shows that government forces have also targeted medical facilities. The siege and assault on hospitals, including in Ilam and Tehran, constitute a clear violation of international humanitarian law and the deliberate denial of access to medical treatment for the wounded—acts that themselves form part of crimes against humanity.

At the same time, the Islamic Republic of Iran has imposed a complete internet shutdown and severe restrictions on telecommunications, which, at the time of issuing this statement, has entered its fifth consecutive day. This deliberate and targeted action has blocked citizens’ access to information and free communication and reflects a systematic effort by the authorities to conceal the true scale of the crimes committed and to prevent international scrutiny and accountability.

Hengaw emphasizes that when a state openly and continuously commits widespread and premeditated killings of civilians, the international community is obligated to invoke the principle of Responsibility to Protect (R2P).

Hengaw further stresses that in such circumstances, diplomatic and political pressure alone is insufficient. The international community must seriously consider all lawful mechanisms provided under international law, including binding coercive measures under the Charter of the United Nations. The purpose of such measures is not political intervention, but the immediate and effective protection of civilian lives and the cessation of mass killings.

Hengaw calls on the United Kingdom and the European Union to take an initial and concrete step by withdrawing their ambassadors from Tehran and downgrading diplomatic relations, thereby sending a clear message that the continuation of crimes against humanity and political impunity will not be tolerated. Such action represents the minimum responsible response of the international community to a government that has systematically violated the fundamental principles of international law.