Iran faces international calls for justice over 2026 protest killings

In early January 2026 Iranian security forces violently suppressed nationwide protests, killing thousands of civilians. Official figures put the death toll at 3,117, while opposition NGOs estimate more than 7,000 deaths and widespread arrests, disappearances and executions.

Six months later, unrest continues. On 29 June protests erupted across the country, with farmers demanding relief from a water crisis, drivers demonstrating outside the presidential palace and northern workers demanding unpaid wages. Human‑rights groups report ongoing arbitrary detentions, denial of medical care to prisoners and the continued use of lethal force.

Amnesty International, including its German office, has condemned the enduring impunity and urged the United Nations Security Council to refer Iran’s situation to the International Criminal Court and to establish an independent international justice mechanism. The organization also called on Germany to grant humanitarian visas to Iranian human‑rights defenders and to halt deportations. While the United States and Iran signed a cease‑fire declaration on 18 June 2026, the agreement does not address the underlying human‑rights crisis.