Iran Doctors arrested – Doctors in Iran are being arrested for providing medical care to protesters injured during the country’s ongoing anti-regime demonstrations, with at least one surgeon now facing the risk of execution.
Human rights groups describe the arrests as part of a deliberate campaign of revenge against healthcare workers who refused to abandon patients despite threats from authorities.
The US State Department has called for the immediate release of all detained doctors and medical personnel, highlighting the growing international concern over Iran’s crackdown on both protesters and those who aid them.
Alireza Golchini, a 52-year-old surgeon from the central city of Qazvin, was among those arrested and has been charged with “moharebeh” — waging war against God — an offense that can carry the death penalty, according to the Norway-based rights group Hengaw.
His cousin, Nima Golchini, who lives in Canada, described the violent circumstances surrounding the arrest. “He was taken from his home in front of his wife and 11-year-old son. They beat him so severely that his arm and ribs were broken, and he was dragged out,” Nima said. “My family is terrified.”
Before his arrest, Golchini had been actively treating protesters, some of whom were shot or stabbed during demonstrations. He also used social media to provide his contact information for those seeking urgent medical attention. “All he did was his duty as a doctor,” Nima Golchini said. “He had sworn to save lives.
How can any doctor ignore that oath? I am worried not only for him but for other healthcare workers who have been arrested simply for fulfilling their professional responsibilities.”
Iranian authorities have not publicly addressed Golchini’s detention, nor confirmed any charges. Meanwhile, the judiciary chief, Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei, has urged security forces to maintain a hard line against protesters, warning against leniency.
“We should not remain silent in the face of those who seek to exploit the situation and disrupt the security and calm of the people,” he said, reflecting the state’s approach to both dissent and those assisting the injured.
At least nine doctors and healthcare volunteers have been arrested over the past week, according to rights groups and medics. Security forces reportedly raided homes and makeshift medical shelters where injured protesters had been treated.
The Norway-based Iran Human Rights NGO (IHRNGO) reported that these raids destroyed property and left families without any information about the whereabouts or condition of detained medical personnel. The pattern points to a coordinated effort to intimidate those who provide aid to protesters.
One volunteer first responder, who had transformed his home into an improvised medical shelter, was arrested on January 14 after treating more than 20 injured protesters. Two of those patients later died.
A source told IHRNGO that the volunteer had been beaten and that security forces had destroyed the interior of his home and damaged his car. “This appears to be a deliberate revenge campaign against doctors and medical staff who refuse to abandon the wounded,” said Hossein Raeesi, an Iranian human rights lawyer living in exile.
The scale of the crackdown is staggering. Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), a US-based group, reports over 6,000 verified deaths and more than 17,000 under investigation, with bodies lining the streets and mass burials taking place.
More than 42,000 arrests have been made across the country, many involving protesters and medical personnel, highlighting the regime’s determination to suppress both dissent and humanitarian aid. According to HRANA, the pressure on medical networks is part of an effort to isolate the injured and reduce support for anti-regime activities.
Amiry-Moghaddam described the arrests and harassment of medical personnel as an additional dimension of Iran’s crimes against humanity. “This persecution of doctors and healthcare workers shows the lengths to which the regime will go to maintain control and silence any form of support for protesters,” he said.
International human rights groups have consistently called for accountability and the protection of medical staff in Iran, especially those caught between their ethical obligations and state repression.
The US State Department issued a statement demanding the release of Golchini and other detained healthcare workers.
The statement emphasized that “President Trump has clearly stated that no executions should take place in Iran and that there will be consequences if the government takes such actions.”
The message reflects the broader concern in the international community that the Iranian regime may escalate punitive measures against medical personnel seen as aiding protesters, including the threat of capital punishment.
The arrests of doctors and volunteers follow a pattern of targeting individuals who uphold ethical and professional duties in hostile political environments.
Many of those detained had previously treated victims during the 2022 Woman, Life, Freedom protests, showing a continuity of risks for medical personnel who provide care amid civil unrest.
Such actions not only violate human rights but also undermine the integrity of healthcare services, leaving injured protesters without critical support during an ongoing crisis.
The situation in Iran continues to draw global attention as reports emerge from hospitals, morgues, and affected families. Makeshift treatment centers have been raided, medical supplies confiscated, and volunteers threatened, creating an environment of fear and intimidation.
Families of detained doctors and volunteers report trauma and uncertainty, often unable to confirm the well-being of their loved ones or to secure legal representation. These accounts reinforce the human cost of Iran’s suppression tactics beyond the immediate deaths and injuries of protesters.
Human rights observers warn that the targeting of healthcare providers sets a dangerous precedent, suggesting that any professional fulfilling moral or humanitarian obligations may face reprisals.
The arrests are widely perceived as an effort to deter both medical professionals and ordinary citizens from aiding injured demonstrators. Such measures risk deepening public mistrust of authorities and further isolating the Iranian population during a period of widespread political unrest.
International advocacy groups continue to campaign for the protection of detained medical personnel, highlighting the ethical imperative to safeguard those who provide essential care in conflict and civil unrest zones.
Their appeals include calls for diplomatic pressure, legal intervention, and public awareness to prevent the potential execution of doctors like Golchini.
The ongoing campaign demonstrates the critical role of international scrutiny in protecting fundamental human rights, particularly in countries where governmental authority is used to punish humanitarian acts.
As Iran grapples with widespread protests and violent crackdowns, the arrests of doctors treating injured protesters have become a focal point of global condemnation.
The combination of physical violence, legal charges, and threats of execution underscores the risks faced by medical personnel in politically charged environments.
Observers emphasize that ensuring the safety of healthcare workers is not only a moral obligation but also a vital component of any functioning society, particularly amid civil unrest and humanitarian crises.
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The international community continues to monitor developments in Iran closely, urging the release of detained medical professionals and the provision of safe access to healthcare for all injured citizens.
As the situation unfolds, the fate of Alireza Golchini and other detained doctors serves as a stark reminder of the intersection of politics, human rights, and the ethical duties of medical practitioners in times of crisis.
The arrests highlight the dangers faced by those committed to saving lives under repressive regimes, and the urgent need for global advocacy to uphold the protection of humanitarian actors.
