In a grave and urgent statement, Nobel Peace Prize laureate Shirin Ebadi has accused the Iranian government of deliberately orchestrating a nationwide communications blackout to conceal the systematic killing of thousands of protesters. According to a January 13 report by the independent outlet *Iran International*, Ebadi asserts that the regime’s enforced information vacuum is a tool for committing atrocities with impunity.
The Blackout as a Weapon
Ebadi, a prominent Iranian human rights lawyer and activist, claims the government has imposed a state of “enforced silence” by cutting off internet access, disrupting communications, threatening witnesses, and silencing independent media. She argues this blackout is a premeditated strategy to allow security forces to carry out lethal operations without external scrutiny or documentation.
“Officials sever internet access, disrupt all forms of communication, threaten potential witnesses, and suppress independent media outlets,” Ebadi stated. “These measures enable the regime to conduct lethal operations without scrutiny and later destroy evidence of atrocities.”
Allegations of Mass Casualties
Citing detailed investigations by *Iran International*, Ebadi reported that security forces killed at least 12,000 people during intense crackdowns on the nights of January 8 and 9, 2026. The investigation, which drew on medical records, eyewitness testimonies, family accounts, and intelligence sources, found that live ammunition was fired directly into crowds. These operations coincided with the near-total communications shutdown that began earlier in the week.
“Forces reportedly used live ammunition directly on crowds amid the near-complete internet shutdown,” the report states. Ebadi emphasized that the killings were not random but rather “targeted and coordinated executions,” revealing a deliberate strategy to eliminate dissent while avoiding international exposure.
Call for Immediate Global Action
Ebadi has appealed for urgent international intervention to pressure Iranian authorities. She is urging governments and global organizations to demand the immediate restoration of internet and communication services across Iran, arguing that transparency is essential to prevent further violence and to allow humanitarian aid to reach affected areas.
The situation underscores the critical role of information access in modern conflicts and the extreme measures some governments may take to suppress dissent. As the allegations circulate globally, pressure mounts on the international community to verify the claims and respond to what Ebadi describes as a calculated campaign of violence hidden behind a digital curtain.
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