Iran report says 16,500 dead in 'genocide under digital darkness'

[GJGCA]

Source: The Sunday Times (UK)

Yesterday [Friday], for the first time, Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Khamenei, admitted that “several thousands” have been killed since the protests began three weeks ago.

In a broadcast to the nation on state TV, he blamed protesters themselves, describing them as “foot-soldiers of the United States” and claiming that “rioters were armed with live ammunition that was imported from abroad”.

But The Sunday Times has obtained a new report from doctors on the ground, which says at least 16,500 protesters have died and 330,000 have been injured, most of them in two days of utter slaughter in the most brutal crackdown by the clerical regime in its 47-year existence.

Most of the victims are thought to have been younger than 30. Heartbreaking Instagram posts record deaths of a female fashion designer of 23, three young footballers — including one who was just 17 years old and captained a youth team in Tehran — a champion basketball player of 21, a fledgling movie director and a student hoping to study for a doctorate at Bristol University, whose first protest was his last.

https://www.thetimes.com/world/middle-east/article/iran-young-protesters-news-nsdztp5t2

[at140]

1. This is heart breaking.

This is genocide, but the world is silent.

[Sequoia]

2. I remember the protests in the late 1970s

And the Shah being ousted. Lots of young people from Iran in my college classes. I worry for the families of my friends.

[newdeal2]

6. Have the uncommitted folks said anything?

They should be able to reuse some of their protest signs and slogans.

[MaineBlueBear]

3. As pox on the Ayatollah

and all who carry out his orders to slaughter his countrymen and women.

May the faces of the innocent remain burned in their vision until they pass.

[Boomerproud]

4. They don't care about the innocent.

As another poster said, the world is silent-at least those who have the power to stop this.

[electric_blue68]

5. 🕯Brave protesters! Horrific outcome.

[0rganism]

7. Don't think for a second F47's crew isn't working overtime to absorb all the wrong lessons from this atrocity

There's a price of freedom. There's also a price for domination. The same people tend to pay either way.

[brer cat]

8. Horrible. 16,500 dead and 330,000 injured,

most of them under 30!!

[Martin Eden]

9. Trump is envious.

He wants to use blue state cities as "training grounds" for a military unconstrained by rules, but he doesn't think he can do that just yet.

[pfitz59]

10. As Allah wills

I guess Allah is as bloodthirsty as the Xian God.

[Initech]

11. Fuck all dictators. Fuck all oligarchs.

[Gaugamela]

12. They thought Trump was coming to help

Many believed a US president would – for the first time – rescue them but now people can only despair after mass arrests and brutality.

When Donald Trump, said he would “rescue” protesters if Iranian authorities started shooting, Siavash Shirzad believed the US president. The 38-year-old father had seen protests rise up before, only to be brutally crushed by authorities.

But this was the first time in his life that the president of the United States had promised to help demonstrators. Reassured, Shirzad took to the streets, ignoring his family’s warnings and joining the growing crowds.

Authorities started shooting, but no help came. On 8 January, the internet was shut off and Iran went dark, Shirzad was shot at a protest in Tehran and died of his wounds hours later, leaving behind a 12-year-old son.

“Siavash hoped until the very end that Trump’s help would arrive,” his cousin said, speaking anonymously for fear of repercussions. “We told him: ‘Don’t go, it’s dangerous.’ But he gave a firm answer: ‘Trump said he supports us, I’m going.’”

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/jan/18/why-protesters-iran-feel-betrayed-donald-trump

[Dan]

14. Believing Trump - wow.

[progressoid]

15. He would have, but he got busy

https://didtrumpgolftoday.com/

[liberalla]

13. OMG. . . "Digital Darkness" equals Death in Iran

The number is shocking to me, and so horrific
... and the youth !!

[Initech]

16. Iran is not our friends.

And it's insane that Trump is egging on the protests. If he's for it, it can't be good.