On Thursday 8 January, Iran experienced a nationwide internet shutdown amid massive protests. In the city of Rasht, a violent crackdown unfolded, with government forces opening fire on crowds. Witness accounts, videos, and hospital testimony have helped reconstruct the events of that night.
Ali, a 36-year-old protester, described marching toward Shariati Street near the grand bazaar, where thousands had gathered. The crowd, estimated at over 20,000, included families with children. Despite the internet blackout, the atmosphere was initially jubilant. Siamak, 40, noted that economic hardship had driven people to protest, with basic goods like tangerines costing more than a day's minimum wage.
As night fell, the mood shifted. Ali recalled a sudden fear as security forces and plainclothes officers surrounded the crowd. White Toyota Hilux vehicles with machine guns moved in. Siamak, watching from a rooftop, saw streets packed with demonstrators. The crackdown began shortly after, with gunfire reported from multiple directions.
Hospital sources and videos later confirmed dozens of deaths in Rasht alone, though exact figures remain unclear due to the internet blackout. The massacre in Rasht was part of a broader crackdown that, according to some estimates, killed thousands across Iran over two days.
