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Leaked Photos Reveal Scale of Deaths in Iran Protest Crackdown, BBC Reports
MLN — 21 JAN 2026: Hundreds of photographs showing the faces of people killed during Iran’s violent crackdown on anti-government protests have been leaked to BBC,
According to BBC, the images, taken inside a mortuary in southern Tehran, show at least 326 identifiable victims, including 18 women. Many of the individuals were reportedly so badly injured that families relied on the photographs as one of the only ways to identify loved ones. Dozens of victims were listed as unidentified, marked as ‘John” or “Jane Doe” in Persian.
Labels visible in more than 100 cases showed dates of death recorded as 9 January, which BBC described as one of the deadliest nights so far during the protests in Tehran. The unrest followed calls for nationwide demonstrations, with clashes reported between protesters and security forces across the capital.
BBC said it reviewed 392 images and confirmed multiple photos of some victims, indicating that the total number of deaths represented in the mortuary could be higher. Sources familiar with the site told the BBC that victims ranged in age from early teens to elderly adults, though it could not independently verify all ages.
Iranian authorities have severely restricted internet access since protests erupted in late December, making independent verification difficult. Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has acknowledged that thousands have been killed but has blamed foreign governments and what he described as, seditionists
The BBC said the leaked images were taken at the Kahrizak Forensic Medical Centre, where families were shown slideshows of photographs in an attempt to identify the deceased. In some cases, identification was reportedly based on personal items placed near bodies, such as bank cards.
BBC said it cross-checked a small number of names visible in the images against social media posts uploaded through limited satellite internet access, finding several matches. The outlet said it is withholding names to protect families.
Human rights group Human Rights Activists News Agency [HRANA] has estimated the total death toll from the protests at more than 4,000, though the figure has not been independently confirmed.
The BBC reported that protests have been verified in at least 71 towns and cities, with the true scale likely higher due to communication restrictions.
