At least 32 Iranian doctors and nurses who treated wounded protesters have been detained or disappeared, rights groups and activists say. Reports point to arrests after protests escalated on January 8, raising alarm about a targeted campaign to punish medical staff for providing care.
Why it matters
Medical neutrality is a core principle of humanitarian law; targeting doctors chills care, deters witnesses, and deepens the humanitarian crisis unfolding across Iran’s cities.
What happened
Iran International has reviewed multiple reports saying doctors who treated injured protesters in cities including Qazvin, Rasht, Tabriz, Mashhad and Gorgan have been arrested or gone missing. Named cases include Masoud Ebadi-Fard Azari and Parisa Porkar in Qazvin, and emergency specialist Golnaz Naraqi in Tehran. The Iran Medical Council acknowledged judicial or security cases against 17 members but denied prosecutions for medical treatment.
The reported arrests mostly follow the spike in unrest after January 8, 2026. Officials including Health Minister Mohammad Reza Zafarghandi have publicly urged patient safety, but medical professionals and online critics say authorities and state-aligned bodies are pressuring hospitals and staff. For background on the wider crackdown and casualty documentation, see the original report by Iran International (Iran International).
For related context and coverage search internal archives: protests and Reza Pahlavi.
Why this matters for rights and health
Targeting medical staff undermines the rule of law and violates international norms protecting health workers. Human Rights Watch and other rights groups have documented broader patterns of lethal force, disappearances and internet blackouts that compound the danger for victims and witnesses (Human Rights Watch: Iran).
The arrests create a chilling effect: hospitals may refuse critical care, families may hide injuries, and independent documentation of abuses grows harder — weakening accountability at a moment when credible records are essential.
Key Takeaways
- Document: Record names, dates, hospital locations and testimony securely; do not share sensitive details publicly.
- Support legal aid: Families and detained staff need access to lawyers and international observers.
- Raise profile: Share verified reports with reputable NGOs and media to build pressure.
- Protect data: Use encrypted channels when contacting sources inside Iran; follow digital safety best practices.
- Demand accountability: Urge diplomats and multilateral bodies to investigate arrests and protect medical neutrality.
The detention of medical staff is a stark escalation that endangers both health services and human rights. Independent monitoring and international pressure are essential to protect caregivers and preserve evidence of abuses. Readers with credible information are urged to share it with trusted organizations and media while prioritizing safety.