Many Protesters Injured In Nationwide Anti-government

Many protesters injured in nationwide anti-government demonstrations in Iran are deliberately avoiding hospitals and medical centres out of fear of arrest, according to eyewitness accounts collected by the and corroborated by human rights monitors and healthcare workers. Tara, a protester shot with birdshot during a demonstration in Isfahan, recounted: “People helped us and we got into a car… I said, ‘Don’t take us to a hospital’.” She and her friend feared detention if taken to formal medical facilities after security forces confronted and began shooting at the crowd.
Instead, they hid in a stranger’s home overnight and later sought care from a doctor willing to risk treating them in private, highlighting how injured protesters are increasingly relying on clandestine medical support rather than official channels.
Healthcare workers told the that security forces are present inside hospitals and constantly checking medical records to identify wounded protesters, heightening the fear that seeking treatment could lead to arrest or detention.
Some doctors avoid documenting gunshot wounds explicitly in patient records to prevent patients from being identified by authorities.
Many protesters with serious injuries are treated at home or in secret by volunteer medics and sympathetic healthcare workers. A surgeon removed some birdshot from Tara’s body at home but warned that not all fragments could be extracted
One surgeon in Tehran even described loading a wounded protester into the boot of his own car to avoid attracting attention from security forces on the streets. The Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) reports thousands killed over 6,300 confirmed deaths including children, with many more injured, though the true toll is hard to verify due to internet shutdowns and media restrictions. Hospitals across major cities are reportedly overwhelmed, especially specialist facilities treating severe eye and limb injuries, forcing nurses to use staff-only routes for protesters to avoid detection.
Multiple human rights organisations and a United Nations expert say Iranian authorities have raided hospitals and arrested injured demonstrators, further deterring people from seeking medical help. Those detained in hospital often disappear from public view, according to survivors and health workers.
Doctors treating wounded protesters face serious personal risk, with some reportedly targeted for arrest or intimidation by authorities. A surgeon credited with caring for injured demonstrators was allegedly charged with moharebeh a capital offence in Iran for providing medical care. The combination of surveillance, intimidation, and punitive treatment of medics has created a chilling effect on medical neutrality, a fundamental principle that healthcare should be provided without fear of reprisals. Fear and Distrust: Many injured demonstrators avoid hospitals due to fear of arrest and detention.
Secret Treatment: Protesters increasingly rely on clandestine medical care and volunteer healthcare providers.
Hospital Surveillance: Security forces reportedly monitor hospital admissions and medical records to identify protesters.
Human Rights Concerns: International monitors and UN experts have condemned reported hospital raids and arrests of injured protesters as violations of humanitarian protections.