In early January 2026, Iran’s cities again became arenas of mass unrest as citizens poured into the streets to protest economic collapse and tightening political repression. Alongside the demonstrations, a disturbing method of state violence has resurfaced. Testimony from physicians in Tehran and findings by international human rights organizations indicate that security forces — including marksmen stationed on rooftops — are deliberately abandoning so-called «non-lethal» crowd-control practices. Instead, they are firing with precision at protesters’ faces and intimate body parts.
These injuries are not the result of chaos or misfire. They reportedly reflect a deliberate strategy employed to discipline society through terror.
Faces and eyes: Turning bodies into warnings
One of the most striking features of the current crackdown is the systematic targeting of protesters’ eyes.
Using birdshot or live sniper fire, security forces aim to blind rather than merely disperse demonstrators. This approach serves multiple state objectives:
- Permanent marking: A blinded individual carries a lifelong, unmistakable sign of punishment — an embodied warning to anyone contemplating dissent.
- Calculated removal: Loss of eyesight permanently sidelines protesters, preventing their return to demonstrations. During the January 2026 unrest, a single hospital in Tehran recorded more than 400 eye injuries within a matter of days.
Genitals: Violence inflicted through humiliation
Investigators and medical staff have documented a disturbing tactic: gunfire targeting the pelvic area and genitals, disproportionately harming women.
- Assault on identity: These attacks go beyond physical harm. They shatter dignity and selfhood. By using cultural taboos, they cause lasting trauma and deter participation by younger generations.
- Maiming as a message: Rights advocates call this pattern intentional, systematic mutilation. Authorities inflict irreversible injury to reproductive organs and sexual health. Their goal is not only to wound bodies but also to extinguish the morale and future of a youth-driven protest movement.
The calculated mechanics of fear
Conventional riot-control doctrine aims at legs to stop movement while minimizing lasting harm. The 2026 response in Iran reflects a different logic entirely — one that prioritizes precision and permanence over temporary control.
