‘Don’t Take Us to Hospital’: Iran Protesters Treated Secretly to Avoid Arrest

Tehran, Iran — January 29, 2026: In the midst of a brutal nationwide crackdown on anti‑government protests, many injured demonstrators in Iran are refusing to seek care at official medical facilities due to fear of arrests and detention by security forces, according to recent reports. Instead, protesters are turning to clandestine networks of medics and volunteer doctors who treat the wounded in private homes or undisclosed locations to avoid detection. (The Star)

The protests, which began in late December 2025 amid economic grievances and quickly evolved into widespread calls for political change, have been met with lethal force from security personnel across numerous cities. Rights groups and eyewitnesses report that thousands of civilians have been injured or killed, with some estimates suggesting the casualty toll may be significantly higher than official figures. (The Star)

In the central city of Isfahan, a protester identified as Tara described being shot during a demonstration and later seeking refuge in a stranger’s home after she and a friend feared arrest if taken to a hospital. “All the alleyways were full of security forces, so I asked a couple standing at their front door to let us in,” she told the BBC, recounting how trusted doctors treated her birdshot wounds at home. (The Star)

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Medical workers have confirmed to international media that security forces are actively present in hospitals, checking patient records and even entering rooms to identify injured protestors for arrest. A nurse and doctors in Tehran reported that members of the Revolutionary Guards and police visited their facilities specifically to locate and detain wounded demonstrators, creating a chilling effect that deters many from seeking life‑saving care. (93.3 The Drive)

The reluctance to use official medical services has forced some wounded protesters into dangerous circumstances. Healthcare personnel say that they have treated serious injuries — including gunshot and birdshot wounds — in homes or other covert settings, often without adequate supplies or sterilised conditions. Medics have also attempted to avoid officially recording sensitive wounds in medical charts to protect patients from identification by security forces. (The Star)

United Nations human rights experts have condemned the detention of injured protesters from hospitals, noting that such actions violate international human rights law and medical neutrality, which is intended to protect patients and healthcare providers alike. Security operations that target the wounded inside or outside healthcare facilities have discouraged many from accessing essential treatment, raising concerns over preventable deaths and long‑term disabilities. (93.3 The Drive)

Iranian authorities have publicly urged wounded individuals to seek treatment at hospitals and assured impartial care, but many remain too afraid to comply. This fear reflects distrust after repeated reports of arrests, raids, and intimidation surrounding medical care during the protests — which have been described by rights groups as among the deadliest crackdowns in Iran in decades. (News.com.au)

The crisis highlights not only the physical toll of the protests but also the psychological barriers and systemic risks that prevent injured civilians from obtaining timely and safe medical treatment. With communication blackouts and restrictions on international reporting still in place, the full scale of the injuries and deaths remains difficult to document independently. (France 24)

‘Don’t Take Us to Hospital’: Iran Protesters Treated Secretly to Avoid Arrest