Summary
Hundreds of photos of people killed during Iran's crackdown on anti-government protests have been leaked to BBC Verify. The images, taken at a mortuary in Tehran, show the faces of 326 victims, with many unidentified due to severe injuries. The protests erupted in late December, and the government has severely restricted internet access, making it difficult to document the unrest.
Key Facts
- BBC Verify received hundreds of leaked photos of people killed in Iran's protest crackdown.
- The images show 326 victims, including 18 women, with many faces swollen and bruised.
- Some bodies were labeled as John or Jane Doe due to unknown identities.
- More than 100 victims died on January 9, a particularly violent night of protests in Tehran.
- Families used these photos to identify their loved ones at a mortuary in south Tehran.
- Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei admitted thousands have died, blaming foreign influence and "seditionists."
- Despite a government-imposed internet blackout, some information about the protests has been leaked out.
- The mortuary slideshow helped families recognize deceased relatives, some as young as 12 or 13 years old.
