Eyewitnesses and rights groups allege that Iranian security forces sexually assaulted detained teenagers and coerced bereaved families into paying up to 10 billion rials to recover the bodies of relatives killed during nationwide protests that began Dec. 28. NGOs report thousands of confirmed and suspected deaths and more than 26,000 arrests. Authorities say the unrest has been quashed, while reports of forced undressing, burned bodies and continued clashes in cities including Kermanshah, Rasht and Mashhad have prompted calls for independent investigations.
Eyewitnesses Allege Sexual Assaults Of Detained Teenagers As Families Forced To Pay To Recover Bodies Amid Iran Protests
Iran accused of sex assaults on teenage prisoners, while families charged to recover remains of loved ones
Eyewitnesses and human-rights groups report that Iranian security forces allegedly sexually assaulted teenagers detained during nationwide protests and coerced grieving families into paying large sums to recover the bodies of relatives killed in the unrest.
Allegations From Multiple Sources
The National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI-US) told media outlets that reports of "barbarity" continue across Iran, including claims that detainees have been killed and some bodies burned. The France-based Kurdistan Human Rights Network (KHRN) and the Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) have provided parallel accounts describing extortion, threats, and mistreatment.
Iranian demonstrators gather in a street during a protest over the collapse of the currency's value, in Tehran, Iran, on Jan. 8, 2026.(Reuters)
"The sedition is over now," Iran's prosecutor general Mohammad Movahedi told the judiciary’s Mizan News Agency. He added, according to the New York Times, that authorities were grateful to people who "extinguished this sedition by being in the field in a timely manner." These official remarks came as unrest continued to be reported in several cities.
Reported Numbers
On the 25th day of protests, observers reported 4,902 confirmed fatalities with another 9,387 deaths under review. HRANA reported the total number of arrests had reached 26,541. These figures are based on non-governmental monitoring groups and have not been independently verified by international organizations in every case.
Specific Allegations
KHRN said it received information that some families were forced to pay sums of up to 10 billion rials (local currency) to retrieve the bodies of relatives. In many instances funerals were held under heavy security, and some families reportedly faced pressure or threats to falsely attribute deaths to protesters rather than security operations.
Demonstrators burn a poster depicting Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei during a rally in support of anti-government protests in Iran, in Holon, Israel Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026.
KHRN and NCRI accounts include allegations that at least two detainees, including a 16-year-old arrested in Kermanshah, reported sexual assault by security personnel. NCRI’s Ali Safavi said eyewitnesses described detainees being forced to undress so authorities could check for pellet wounds and that some detained individuals were later killed and their bodies burned.
Ongoing Clashes And International Reaction
Eyewitnesses and opposition groups reported clashes in cities including Kermanshah, Rasht and Mashhad even as Tehran asserted the unrest had been quelled. International human-rights organizations and several foreign governments have called for independent investigations and accountability in response to the reports of killings, sexual violence, extortion and mass arrests.
Note: This article reports allegations and claims as documented by NGOs, exile groups and media outlets. Many of these accounts are difficult to independently verify on the ground; readers should interpret contested claims with caution and look to further official investigations for confirmation.
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