Unveiling the Horror: A Timeline of the Rasht Massacre in Iran
In the midst of widespread national protests, the Iranian government imposed a complete communications blackout on Thursday, 8 January, severing internet and phone connections across the country. This drastic measure set the stage for a night of unprecedented violence, as government forces launched a brutal crackdown on demonstrators in numerous cities. According to various estimates, thousands—potentially tens of thousands—lost their lives over two days of bloodshed. The internet shutdown has obscured the full scale of the tragedy, but through painstaking efforts, a clearer picture has emerged from witness reports, video footage, photographs, and hospital testimonies. Human rights groups indicate that demonstrations were occurring in over 200 cities at the time. This account focuses on the devastating events that unfolded in one such city: Rasht, located in central Iran.
The Buildup to Chaos: Protests Swell in Rasht
As the Iranian authorities cut off the internet at 5pm on 8 January, Ali*, a 36-year-old resident, and his friends were already marching towards Shariati Street, which borders the grand bazaar in Rasht. By their arrival, thousands had gathered, chanting slogans for freedom. The protests had been gaining momentum since Tuesday, with people from surrounding areas converging on Rasht to join the movement. They flocked to the grand bazaar, a historic and vibrant marketplace sprawling across interconnected streets, serving as the heart of the city's bustling life and a natural hub for demonstrators. Ali estimates that more than 20,000 people filled the alleys and boulevards near the bazaar that evening.
He recalls a diverse crowd, including people of all ages. "My friend brought along his wife and his two daughters, one nine and the other 12. We were all so happy and felt united to be together for freedom," Ali says. Even when they realised the internet had been severed, he felt no immediate danger, buoyed by a sense of collective purpose. Meanwhile, Siamak*, a 40-year-old cautious observer, noted the heavy atmosphere as crowds swelled. He understood the protesters' frustrations, citing economic hardships like the high cost of basic goods. "People were pushed to their limits. We couldn't afford the basics," Siamak explains, describing how even buying tangerines had become a financial strain. As he drove through the city, he saw families and teenagers joining the march, and by Thursday afternoon, the mood shifted from economic anger to a demand for dignity, prompting him to join the thronging crowds.
Nightfall and the Descent into Violence
By 8pm, as night fell, the crowds showed no signs of dispersing. Siamak had made his way to Rasht's Municipality Square, climbing a rooftop to witness the massive gathering. On Shariati Street, Ali and his friends continued chanting, but the jubilant atmosphere suddenly turned to fear. "The feeling of victory turned to fear," Ali recounts, describing how security forces and plainclothes officers with masks surrounded them, accompanied by white Toyota Hilux vehicles equipped with machine guns. Initially, they couldn't fathom the impending catastrophe.
Soon, Siamak heard explosions and nonstop gunfire from the bazaar's direction, followed by people fleeing, some bleeding and screaming. He then smelled smoke and saw a red glow in the sky—the market was on fire. By approximately 8:30pm, Ali observed the flames spreading rapidly, trapping people inside. "People inside were in a dilemma, whether to run towards us or to save those in the fire," he says. As crowds fled the inferno, security forces began shooting indiscriminately. "I saw people being shot directly in the head, with AK47, G3 and also Dushka guns. It was as if you could see how hell burns," Ali describes, witnessing a massacre firsthand. Siamak learned from those escaping that firefighters were barred from entering, forcing people to choose between burning alive or being shot upon exit.
Aftermath and Ongoing Suffering
From 9pm to midnight, the chaos intensified. Siamak saw people collapsing on streets, with shooting from multiple directions and loud explosions. He reports that wounded individuals were allegedly "finished off" by armed men, preventing survivors from escaping. Human rights groups have corroborated that fire engines were denied access until after midnight, allowing the blaze to consume shops and homes. By 2am, Ali returned to find about 500 shops burned, with flames still flickering and bodies charred beyond recognition on the streets. "It looked like the city was burning to ashes. It was like a bad dream," he says.
Hospitals in Rasht were overwhelmed with casualties. A doctor, who remains anonymous due to fear of reprisals, compiled reports indicating hundreds of burn victims and gunshot injuries, with patterns resembling urban combat rather than crowd control. By dawn, the bodies had been removed, but the trauma lingered. Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam, director of Iran Human Rights, condemns the events as a crime against humanity. For Siamak, who has since fled Iran, the aftermath is agonising: families were forced to pay to retrieve bodies, and some buried loved ones secretly. "After the massacre, the city felt destroyed," he reflects, describing a sense of total isolation in the wake of the tragedy.
*Names have been changed to protect identities.
