‎Report on the Deliberate Suppression and Arson of Rasht Bazaar

‎Report on the Deliberate Suppression and Arson of Rasht Bazaar

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Events of 18 — 19 Dey (January) in Rasht, Iran

‎During the protests of 18 and 19 Dey in the city of Rasht, Iranian security and law-enforcement forces carried out a pre-planned and coordinated operation that resulted in mass civilian deaths, the deliberate burning of Rasht’s historic bazaar, and the obstruction of emergency rescue efforts.

‎Deliberate Entrapment and Arson of the Bazaar

‎Security forces intentionally directed protesters into the Rasht bazaar, an area with an old architectural layout consisting of narrow corridors and limited exits. Once a large number of civilians had been concentrated inside, the bazaar was fully surrounded from all directions, effectively turning it into a closed trap.

‎Subsequently, the bazaar was set on fire by the forces responsible for the suppression. The fire spread rapidly through the confined passages, filling the area with smoke and flames. Many civilians — including shopkeepers, workers, families, children, and elderly people — were trapped inside.

‎Shooting of Fleeing and Surrendering Civilians

‎As the fire intensified, civilians attempted to escape to avoid suffocation and burning. Numerous individuals exited the bazaar with their hands raised, clearly signaling surrender and non-threatening intent. Despite this, security forces opened fire on those attempting to flee.

‎Civilians who tried to escape or who surrendered were shot at point-blank range. Reports indicate that individuals who survived the initial gunfire were subsequently executed with final shots (“coup de grâce”). At the same time, a significant number of people were burned alive or died from smoke inhalation inside the bazaar.

‎The bazaar thus became a scene where civilians faced an impossible choice: death by fire inside or death by gunfire outside.

‎Obstruction of Firefighting and Emergency Response

‎Although fire brigade units were dispatched to the scene in a timely manner, security forces prevented firefighters from extinguishing the blaze. Armed personnel reportedly aimed weapons at firefighters and emergency responders, forcibly stopping them from carrying out rescue operations.

‎According to reports, security forces explicitly told firefighters that the civilians trapped inside were “supporters of the Pahlavi movement” and therefore “should be killed.” This deliberate obstruction of emergency services directly contributed to the scale of fatalities.

‎Scale and Nature of the Crimes

‎As a result of this operation, a large number of unarmed civilians were killed — some by live ammunition, some by execution-style shots, and many by fire and smoke. Numerous others were injured, arrested, or forcibly disappeared.

‎The events in Rasht do not constitute spontaneous unrest or accidental escalation. They represent a systematic and intentional act of collective punishment, involving:

‎•deliberate arson,

‎•lethal force against surrendering civilians,

‎•extrajudicial executions, and

‎•the intentional prevention of life-saving emergency assistance.

‎Call for International Attention

‎The actions carried out in Rasht amount to serious violations of international human rights law, including the right to life, the prohibition of extrajudicial killings, and the protection of civilians. These acts may constitute crimes against humanity and require urgent, independent international investigation.

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