This figure significantly exceeds the official data announced on January 21, which stated that 3,117 people had died. This information came from organizations subordinate to Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. The human rights organization Human Rights Activists News Agency also reports lower figures — currently, 5,459 deaths have been confirmed, while data on 17,031 cases is still being verified.
TIME was unable to independently confirm these figures but noted that they are corroborated by data collected by doctors and emergency services. German-Iranian ophthalmic surgeon Amir Parasta, who compiled the report, stated that as of Friday, 30,304 deaths had been recorded in hospitals, excluding data from military hospitals and information from hard-to-reach areas.
According to information provided to TIME, Iran's National Security Council reported that protests have spread to about 4,000 settlements. Dr. Parasta added that the actual number of fatalities could be even higher. Experts studying mass killings note that such a high mortality rate over a short period of time requires historical reflection.
