Exclusive X-Ray Analysis Reveals Catastrophic Injuries from Iran Protest Crackdown
An exclusive investigation has uncovered shocking medical evidence from a hospital in a major Iranian city, detailing the severe injuries inflicted on protesters during the regime's recent crackdown. Over 75 sets of X-rays and CT scans, taken in a single evening, reveal a pattern of catastrophic trauma caused by metal birdshot and high-calibre bullets, with nearly 30 patients shot in the face alone.
Deliberate Targeting of Vital Body Parts
The images, assessed by a panel of international health and ballistics experts, show a consistent trend of protesters being shot at short to medium range in the face, chest, and genitals. This pattern, also observed during the 2022 "Women, life, freedom" protests, suggests intentional harm rather than random gunfire. Medical analysts describe the injuries as akin to those seen in wartime, with high-calibre rounds from assault rifles like the AK-47 used by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
One X-ray depicts a young woman, Anahita, in her early 20s, with dozens of metal pellets embedded in her face and brain, leading to the loss of at least one eye. Another scan shows Vahid, a young man, with a large-calibre bullet lodged in his neck, causing life-threatening swelling and tissue damage. In multiple cases, bullets are visible in the brain or near the spine, with experts noting such injuries are "likely not survivable" even with immediate surgery.
Overwhelming Hospital Resources
The volume of severe injuries presented in these images would constitute a mass casualty situation, overwhelming hospital resources even in well-equipped facilities. Dr. Rohini Haar, an emergency medicine doctor and medical adviser to Physicians for Human Rights, emphasized that using live ammunition and large-gauge bullets against so many individuals is "extremely unusual and notable, even globally." The scans likely represent only a small subset of the injured, as hospitals prioritize treatable cases during such events.
Birdshot pellets, while smaller than bullets, can cause devastating damage at close range. For instance, Ali's chest X-ray shows over 174 pellets packed into his right chest cavity, indicating he was shot at point-blank range, with a high risk of death despite surgical intervention. Haar noted, "When you're firing at point-blank range, all of those metal balls are penetrating – they're like 100 tiny bullets."
Long-Term Disabilities and Fatal Outcomes
The injuries extend beyond immediate life threats, with many leading to permanent disabilities. At least nine patients were shot in the genital or pelvic area, with one middle-aged woman having nearly 200 metal balls embedded in her thighs and pelvis. Medical experts warn that such injuries could result in bladder and bowel incontinence, sterility, and impotence. Additionally, numerous cases involve eye injuries, with doctors reporting the surgical removal of eyes, including in teenagers and children as young as 14.
Testimony from verified doctors inside Iran corroborates the X-ray findings, describing a recurring pattern of deliberate targeting of specific organs. One doctor stated that the injuries "strongly suggest an intent to cause permanent disability" and are "difficult to reconcile with random gunfire." The violence affected all age groups, from toddlers to grandparents, with one grandmother in her mid-60s dying after being shot at close range with a pellet-loaded shotgun.
This investigation, conducted jointly with fact-checking platform Factnameh, provides further evidence of the scale of bloodshed during the protests, highlighting the use of lethal weapons against civilians and the lasting impact on survivors.
