In Iran, an alarming new wave of repression has targeted healthcare workers who fulfilled their ethical duty to treat people injured during nationwide protests. Security forces have arrested doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and volunteer responders, and intimidated the medical community to prevent treatment of wounded civilians. These actions are serious violations of medical neutrality and international human rights standards.

Some detained healthcare workers remain missing, held without access to legal counsel, and at risk of harsh punishment including execution, simply for providing medical care. Reports indicate security forces detained multiple doctors and others after storming private residences and medical facilities of those who treated injured protesters.

We call for the immediate and unconditional release of all healthcare workers detained for providing medical care, and for the protection of medical professionals and patients in Iran.

List of Known Detained or Abused Healthcare Workers
(This list is not exhaustive — there are other verified cases not publicly named to protect privacy or family safety.)

Doctors (Detained / Legal Status Unknown)
Dr. Ali Asghar Shakeri – General Practitioner, Mashhad
Dr. Fariba Hosseini – Dentist, Shiraz
Dr. Ameneh Soleimani – General Practitioner, Ardabil
Dr. Alireza Golchini – Surgeon, Qazvin
Dr. Mohammad Erfan Farbod – Internal Medicine Specialist, Tehran
Dr. Saber Dehghan – Neurosurgeon, Sirjan
Dr. Farhad Nadali – Surgeon, Gorgan
Dr. Babak Pouramin – Emergency Medicine Specialist, Neyshabur
Male Physician (Urologist) – Tehran
Male Physician (Unnamed) – Isfahan
Physician (Unnamed) – Kerman
Physician (Unnamed) – Kerman
Physician (Unnamed) – Legal status unknown
Male Physician (Unnamed) – Qazvin
Male Physician (Unnamed) – Qazvin
Pharmacists
Pharmacist (Unnamed) – Isfahan — pharmacy closed, beaten
Amin Pourfarhang – Pharmacy Student, Mashhad — name publicly associated with risk of execution
Nurses
Moein Moradian – Nurse, Mashhad
Nurse (Unnamed) – Multiple nurses detained across cities
Female Nurse (Unnamed) – Tehran
Male Nurse (Unnamed) – Tehran
Male Nurse (Unnamed) – Tehran

(Other credible cases exist beyond these names, including volunteer responders and medical personnel whose names are not publicly disclosed for safety.)

 
🔴 What We Demand
✔️ Immediate and unconditional release of all healthcare workers detained for providing medical care.
✔️ Protection of medical neutrality — the principle that healthcare providers and patients must never be targeted for treatment decisions.
✔️ No executions or harsh punishments for health workers whose only “crime” was saving lives.
✔️ Accountability for Iranian authorities who violate human rights and international norms.
✔️ Support and protection from the international community — including governments, human rights bodies, and medical associations — to ensure the safety and dignity of healthcare workers in Iran.

Medical care is not a crime.
Saving lives must never be punished.