Black Friday: The Jaleh Square massacre and its historical impact

The events of September 8, 1978, known as ‘Black Friday,’ represent a critical turning point in the protests leading up to the Iranian Revolution. During a period of martial law in Tehran, military forces opened fire on demonstrators at Jaleh Square, resulting in numerous casualties.

While historical accounts and political narratives have often disputed the exact number of victims, recent academic research and studies of Pahlavi-era documents suggest that approximately 58 to 64 people were killed at Jaleh Square, with the total death toll in Tehran for that day reaching around 88.

The significance of the event lies not only in the casualty figures but in its role as a symbol of the escalating conflict between the monarchy and the public. Discussions surrounding the event emphasize the importance of preserving the individual humanity of the victims against the tendency of political narratives to use their deaths as symbolic tools.