Talk:2026 Iran massacres
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Where did the 30k estimate come from?
The highest number thrown around is 12k, which has been largely reported only by iran international and CBC. This page loses any credibility reporting imaginary numbers ~2026-36210-8 (talk) 12:09, 17 January 2026 (UTC)
- Certain "alleged" propagandists have flooded all Wikipedia pages concerning the riots and are now just magically inventing casualty numbers out of thin air. It went from 70 to 200 to 2000 to 12000 to 20000 and now 30000 killed in only a few days. That is more than double the amount of civilians killed in 4 years of the Russo-Ukrainian war. SwedishDutch (talk) 17:58, 17 January 2026 (UTC)
- Don't be absurd - more than that number of civilians died in the two months of the Siege of Mariupol alone. Fig (talk) 18:38, 17 January 2026 (UTC)
- Over two months of a siege, the UN was able to confirm the deaths of only above 1,000 civilians killed in the Siege of Mariupol, although conceding it was probably "thousands higher". Of course the Ukrainians and their allies, who have every intention of portraying the Russian forces as merely a barbaric horde, claim an unsubstantiated civilian death toll in the tens of thousands, and of course claim that it was all the Russians' doing, despite widespread civilian support for the Russian invasion in the occupied parts of Ukraine (soon to be recognized as Russian oblasts in a peace treaty), verified by the numbers who fled east, and the fact that Mariupol, even Kherson, had a substantial "fifth column" that provided material support to the Russian invaders.
- Nonetheless, that is an actual war zone, and what does it say about the Russians that in two months of siege warfare, they killed fewer civilians than the Iranians allegedly killed in a matter of days? Are wikipedia editors that credulous? This is a bad case of one-sided skepticism where some suspension of judgement might be more helpful toward fulfilling wikipedia's mission of providing accurate information to the public, not to mention toward defusing Jingoistic public discourse in the English speaking world, premised on the reports of US-backed NGOs that are politically aligned with the State Department's long-standing project of overthrowing the government of Iran, which is driving us toward a potentially nuclear confrontation. I would hope the threat of a nuclear holocaust might override some of the patriotic ethos here. Situwannabe (talk) 17:27, 17 February 2026 (UTC)
- Don't be absurd - more than that number of civilians died in the two months of the Siege of Mariupol alone. Fig (talk) 18:38, 17 January 2026 (UTC)
- A much better source is needed than CBN or Iran International for these upper estimates. The page should be looking to figures provided in the own voice of serious, mainstream news sources. One GREL RSP at a minimum. Iskandar323 (talk) 19:31, 17 January 2026 (UTC)
- This page is propaganda in real time, saying “alleged” does not give you an excuse to throw any number you want. It took over a year for people to reach such numbers in Gaza but for Iran media outlets are so easily throwing around exponentially increasing numbers. What are the mechanism to report this page to Wikipedia because at this point this point this page is a sorry excuse of an article. ~2026-36210-8 (talk) 19:39, 17 January 2026 (UTC)
- "It took Gaza a year, but Iran supposedly did it in a week! It's unrealistic" Sorry, but we're not playing "Genocide Olympics" here, we're trying to collectivize information for the internet, and information from Iran more or less confirms that this was a massacre on an unimaginable scale.
- Realistic? Obviously not, but what is? Would the Holocaust be realistic to someone in 1910? Would the Gaza genocide be realistic to someone in 2020? By denying objective evidence that has already been provided, you are going down the steps of genocide denial (although in this case it's Politicide, not genocide) that being "Denial".
- That said, your objectivity in this matter is rather suspect. You seem more angry about the fact that a political massacre DARED to seemingly outpace Gaza's genocide, than you are concerned with the fact that the Iranian government seemingly just did the largest political massacre in recent history. Reaperz 2020 (talk) 20:43, 22 January 2026 (UTC)
- Lol it's confirmed by propaganda. You're a true genius buddy. ~2026-48769-7 (talk) 02:25, 23 January 2026 (UTC)
- This page is propaganda in real time, saying “alleged” does not give you an excuse to throw any number you want. It took over a year for people to reach such numbers in Gaza but for Iran media outlets are so easily throwing around exponentially increasing numbers. What are the mechanism to report this page to Wikipedia because at this point this point this page is a sorry excuse of an article. ~2026-36210-8 (talk) 19:39, 17 January 2026 (UTC)
- CBS and Iran International are cited throughout these articles as WP:RS, but as CBN seems to be contentious, I'm removing it and the tag, and restoring the article.--Ronnnaldo7 (talk) 20:36, 17 January 2026 (UTC)
- @Ronnnaldo7: Sorry, no the Pat Robertson-founded Christian Broadcasting Network is certainly not RS especially for a contentious topic like this. This has been made clear in more than enough discussions at WP:RSN: Wikipedia:Reliable sources/Noticeboard/Archive 471#Christian Broadcasting Network, Wikipedia:Reliable sources/Noticeboard/Archive 343#CBN - Christian Broadcasting Network. Moreover these figures are not from the CBN, it is citing unnamed reports as a source. The entire CBN article is entirely not acceptable for the Wikipedia:CT/IRP contentious topic space (or generally for that matter).
- I have as such undone your edits at the main protest article as well. You should find better sources for the 30,000 figure (supposedly from 'some' reports that the CBN cites), otherwise this isn't going in. Gotitbro (talk) 20:47, 17 January 2026 (UTC)
- Right, which is why I removed the CBN content from this article. Thank you for pointing me to the CBN RS discussion; that's what I was looking for and was struggling to find as it looks to be in the archives. Ronnnaldo7 (talk) 20:52, 17 January 2026 (UTC)
- While CBS is globally considered a credible source even though their figure is based on a single anonymous contact, I will question Iran International report as their sources are a clear stretch and an attempt to get breaking news out there, based on their articles their sources include someone close to the Supreme National Security Council, two sources in the presidential office, and several sources from within the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Given these numbers contradict the official statements from the same source, I request that the article avoids using Iran International unless they start providing more credible sources for their informations, as currently it appears as a blatant attempt to fabricate breaking news. ~2026-36210-8 (talk) 21:40, 17 January 2026 (UTC)
- We have an ongoing discussion for Iran Intl. at Wikipedia:Reliable sources/Noticeboard#Is Iran International a reliable source?. While I wouldn't be too sure of its reporting under Bari Weiss, we list WP:CBS as RS. Though I agree that anon sources are something we shouldn't be displaying so prominently or perhaps at all.
- But until we have a firmer grip on the numbers from much more stable academic sources and the like, this is what we have for now. Gotitbro (talk) 03:52, 18 January 2026 (UTC)
- While CBS is globally considered a credible source even though their figure is based on a single anonymous contact, I will question Iran International report as their sources are a clear stretch and an attempt to get breaking news out there, based on their articles their sources include someone close to the Supreme National Security Council, two sources in the presidential office, and several sources from within the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Given these numbers contradict the official statements from the same source, I request that the article avoids using Iran International unless they start providing more credible sources for their informations, as currently it appears as a blatant attempt to fabricate breaking news. ~2026-36210-8 (talk) 21:40, 17 January 2026 (UTC)
- Right, which is why I removed the CBN content from this article. Thank you for pointing me to the CBN RS discussion; that's what I was looking for and was struggling to find as it looks to be in the archives. Ronnnaldo7 (talk) 20:52, 17 January 2026 (UTC)
- HRANA appears to have a very good reputation by all regards, and is well referenced by RSP, so it's unclear why any of these rough guestimates in the '000s (and attributed to activists) are being privileged over the one human rights group with a seemingly rigorous and exacting approach. Iskandar323 (talk) 04:14, 18 January 2026 (UTC)
- There is also the issue of randomly giving preference/listing first higher deaths tolls against enwiki guidleines for ranges or precedent. I started a discussion about that here: Talk:2025–2026 Iranian protests#Casualties. Gotitbro (talk) 05:20, 18 January 2026 (UTC)
- HRANA/HRAI get every single cent they get from the National Endowment for Democracy, i.e. the United States government. A very good reputation indeed.
- Anyway, the human rights agency I just founded in my head says 200 million dead. Please adjust the article accordingly. Trump will confirm, surely. ~2026-48769-7 (talk) 02:29, 23 January 2026 (UTC)
- HRANA actually has a methodology, which immediately makes it more useful than Iran International or any of the other rumour-mongering sources. Iskandar323 (talk) 03:31, 23 January 2026 (UTC)
- I have answered you in Iran intl RS discussion.
- However, here we go, according to HARANA themselves (currently at well above 12000) they are sure the death tolls are above what their final numbers land on as they cannot get every single name.
- Their work is trying to get every single name possible, not a precise estimates of all dead as that simply is not possible when dealing with a regime that has a history of digging mass graves both in Iran and Syria. Kane 1371 (talk) 17:24, 3 February 2026 (UTC)
- I agree, HRANA has the best data. I think we should focus more on those estimates in the article rather than propaganda from Iran International. WP:UNDUE and WP:NPOV align with this too. Also WP:RS: HRANA is the better source. HarvardJock (talk) 04:38, 26 March 2026 (UTC) HarvardJock (talk) 04:39, 26 March 2026 (UTC)
- The fact that HRANA has only 'confirmed' the lowest estimate, does not 'reduce' all the others to merely "propaganda." In that sense (or not), one can also link the (IRGC propaganda controlling) Iran's red Cross had just come up with the number "80,000 civilian locations," after (more publicized) estimates,
- of '80,000' civilians massacred... Willysbillys (talk) 23:12, 27 March 2026 (UTC)
- Regardless, since your comment I've decided I have no objections to listing all the different estimates from all the different sources as long as they're laid out neutrally. I still think HRANA is the best though. HarvardJock (talk) 19:35, 6 April 2026 (UTC)
- It's a total fabrication from Iran International. But per Wikipedia standards it should be included here due to WP:NPOV and WP:BALANCE especially since other news outlets pick up on the figure and throw it around all the time (unfortunately). HarvardJock (talk) 07:35, 6 April 2026 (UTC)
The estimates 35,000-80,000 fatalities by Islamist regime
Source: The genocide lie:
- Hansard - Senate 3/02/2026 Parliament of Australia.
Chamber: Senateon 3/02/2026 Item: ADJOURNMENT - Victoria: Bushfires, International Relations: Australia and Iran. Speaker : Ciccone, Sen Raff. "Since 28 December last year, the Iranian regime has responded to peaceful protests with extraordinary and horrifying violence against its own people.
Tens of thousands of Iranians have been brutally murdered—reportedly, over 80,000. Many thousands more have been arrested, beaten or simply disappeared.
Millions of brave Iranians are being terrorised by an evil regime for simply advocating for the basic human rights that we all take for granted here in Australia: the right to democratically elect their own government; equal rights, dignity and respect for women; individual rights and freedoms protected by the rule of law; and the right to a government which serves its people. The regime has attempted to conceal the scale of its brutality through nationwide internet and telecommunication blackouts—a tactic that is designed to weaponise fear and silence witnesses."
- 'Crowning in Munich: 'Global Day of Rage' is Reza Pahlavi's unofficial coronation for Iranians.'
Alex Winston. 'Jerusalem Post'. February 20, 2026. "...conservative reports estimating 50,000 killed over the near two-month period (some say that number was killed by the regime during the days of January 8-9 alone)."
- 'Iran: Demonstration in Milan in front of Palazzo Marino against the Islamic Republic.'
'Agenzia Nova.' Feb 21, 2026 — "Forty days have passed since the mass killings that claimed the lives of over 60,000 Iranians who took to the streets to protest the Islamic Republic, but the violence continues. "
- 'Mixed reactions in Winnipeg following attacks on Iran.'
By Harrison Shin, 'CTV News', March 2, 2026 “The regime that didn’t care about 60,000 lives of its own people – you think if their ambition (is) to get to the nuclear power, they would hesitate to attack all those free nations if they wanted to?
- '“Ayatollah Killed 50,000 Of His Own Citizens” | Iran Retaliation Attacks Disrupt Middle East Regions.'
TalkTV. Mar 2, 2026. Alex Phillips speaks with former US Navy officer, Rear Admiral Mike Hewitt.
- .'Portland Iranian American says emotions split after report of Khamenei's killing.'
By Victor Park, KATU Staff. March 3, 2026. “And then they were machine gunned,” Sahebi said. “About 30,000 to 60,000 people were massacred in January.”
- ' ‘Either everything changes or I die’ Iran victim profiles.'
"Between January 8 - 10, under cover of digital darkness, Iran’s security forces and Basiji militia went into the streets where hundreds of thousands were protesting against the regime, and opened fire, killing protesters, including children and babies. Up to 80,000 are believed to have died. Here are their stories." Sam Arya and Shokoofeh Azar. 'The Australian', March 17, 2026.
- 'Iran hangs 3, including 19-year-old champion wrestler, activists fear mass executions.'
Anamica Singh, 'WION', Mar 20, 2026. "Doctor accounts from Iran peg the number to be around 50,000." Willysbillys (talk) 13:10, 25 March 2026 (UTC)
- Statements in media that refer to a number from a vague source in a single sentence of an article, just to give background information rather than a key point presented by the authors, don't count as new sources. Those quotes sound like background based on gossip: "it's N because 'it's known that it's N'". Boud (talk) 20:25, 25 March 2026 (UTC)
- Who really has the actual numbers in a totalitarian regime? These are estimates. And not just by some "media." You got at least 3 politicians too.
- Sen. Raff Ciccone: : "Tens of thousands of Iranians have been brutally murdered—reportedly, over 80,000."
- Belgian politician Darya Safai, (on 1.25.26): 'My speech on Sunday was in English..... “We are mourning—but we are stronger than ever. In just three days, we lost 60,000 beautiful young lives."'
- Milner Cameron, a former Queensland ALP state secretary: "A sickening Islamic theocracy run by a death cult that killed up to 80,000 of its own citizens for daring to demonstrate..."
- Willysbillys (talk) 23:58, 25 March 2026 (UTC)
- This higher estimate number has already been included. The other details are an opinion piece. HarvardJock (talk) 07:35, 6 April 2026 (UTC)
- Who really has the actual numbers in a totalitarian regime? These are estimates. And not just by some "media." You got at least 3 politicians too.
Maybe the maximum estimate of '90,000' should be included?
- Canadian politician Goldie Ghamari
Goldie Ghamari | @gghamari:
| “ | ...nation that's lost over 90,000 people, murdered by the Islamic Regime... | ” |
- Pennsylvania Rep. Dan Meuser Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 41 (Wednesday, March 4, 2026):
| “ | Because of this regime's reign of terror, their own civilians rose up and protested, Mr. Speaker. Over the last 2 months, there are reports that as many as 90,000 Iranian civilians were murdered. | ” |
- Cited in:
Hopes and fears: Colorado Iranians speak out on widening war. March 6, 2026.
| “ | Estimates vary on how many opponents were killed or executed by the Islamic Regime in recent months, ranging from 3,000 to 5,000 by the regime’s published estimates to 30,000 and even 90,000 by others. | ” |
(Saw it by hecking their updates in The genocide lie). Willysbillys (talk) 01:56, 17 April 2026 (UTC)
- No, there is no
maximum estimate of '90,000'
for which anyone has posted a source on this page. Those are not estimates. They are politicians' statements, with no sources or methods stated. Those could be included in the 2026 Iran massacres#Political subsection of the Reactions section, though I don't really see much point. Boud (talk) 17:24, 18 April 2026 (UTC) - @Willysbillys: While it's good that you're open about stating where you found your sources of politicians' statements, that particular source appears to be a Gaza genocide denier, so it is unlikely to be a good meta-source for high-quality sources. Boud (talk) 17:40, 18 April 2026 (UTC)
- None of these are reliable sources and are not due even if they were. HarvardJock🏫 (talk) 21:02, 28 April 2026 (UTC)
- Regardless of one's POV I skipped through their notes section. One can judge each note, respectively.
Back to the point: to make it clear, I'm not "endorsing" any estimate, maybe one day, if Iran becomes an open society truth will come out, maybe never. My point was, proposing to mention it as by some estimates. (Some human rights groups have a history of biases toward particular cases, some don't).Willysbillys (talk) 08:14, 20 April 2026 (UTC)
- Those are not estimates. They are numbers stated by politicians. Boud (talk) 21:08, 22 April 2026 (UTC)
- The current estimation in the infobox is fine. It gives a decent range per policy. If I had it my way I would only include HRANA, but alas, policy supercedes my desire as a single editor. HarvardJock🏫 (talk) 21:03, 28 April 2026 (UTC)
More
From Darya Safai on Jan 29, 2026 in
| “ | 11.01
Darya Safai (N-VA): More than 60,000 deaths in barely two days—60,000 lives wiped out—more than 300,000 people imprisoned, and over 250 executions to date: all of this was made possible because the regime of the Ayatollahs has pumped its money into the IRGC. The IRGC are not soldiers; the IRGC is not an intelligence service. They are terrorists, colleagues. They used snipers to shoot at young people, at women, and at children. As if that were not enough, victims who were already wounded—and already lying in hospital beds—were finished off with a final bullet to the forehead. This is pure, cold-blooded mass murder—a crime against humanity. For years, we have called for the IRGC to be placed on the European terror list. We warned that this mass murder could have been prevented. Today, that moment has finally arrived, yet it remains a bittersweet victory after so much pain and so many lost lives. Now, we must not stop. Mr. Minister, sooner or later, all European countries—adopting this new stance—will close their Iranian embassies. Is our country prepared to close the Iranian embassy—or, to be more precise, its spy network? |
” |
Chambre des représentants de Belgique. https://www.lachambre.be (PDF ). Plenumvergadering Séance pleniere van du Jeudi 29 Janvier 2026.Willysbillys (talk) 15:27, 30 March 2026 (UTC)
