In brief
A disturbing collection of images depicting over 300 victims from Iran's protest crackdown has been leaked to the BBC. These pictures showcase the harrowing aftermath of state violence during recent anti-government demonstrations, revealing the extent of brutality faced by protesters. The images serve as both a means for families to identify their deceased loved ones and a chilling reminder of the significant casualties stemming from the conflict.
Warning: this story contains graphic content which some readers might find distressing
Hundreds of photos revealing the faces of those killed during Iran's violent crackdown on anti-government protests have been leaked to BBC Verify.
The pictures, which are too graphic to show without blurring, reveal the bloodied, swollen and bruised faces of at least 326 victims - including 18 women. The images, displayed in a south Tehran mortuary, are one of the only ways families have been able to identify their dead loved ones.
Many of the victims were too disfigured to be identified, and 69 people had been labelled as John or Jane Doe, suggesting their identity was unknown when the photo was taken. Only 28 of the victims had labels with clearly visible names in the photos.
Labels on more than 100 victims, who had their date of death recorded, showed that date as 9 January, one of the deadliest nights for protesters in Tehran so far.
The city's streets were set on fire during clashes with security forces, with protesters chanting slogans against the supreme leader and the Islamic Republic. It followed a call for nationwide protests from Reza Pahlavi, the exiled son of the late shah.
The leaked photos provide a small snapshot of the thousands believed to have been killed at the hands of the Iranian state.
BBC Verify has been tracking the spread of protests across Iran since they erupted in late December, but the near-total internet blackout imposed by the authorities has made it extremely difficult to document the scale of the government's violence against those who oppose it.
Despite the blackout entering its third week, a small number of people have managed to get some information out. Hundreds of close-up images of victims taken from inside the Kahrizak Forensic Medical Centre were leaked to BBC Verify.
One source, who we are not naming for their safety, described encountering overwhelming devastation inside the mortuary complex, seeing victims ranging from as young as 12 years old to elderly individuals.
The level of violence is corroborated by videos showing clearly visible gunshot wounds on victims. Some victims' injuries were so severe that family members asked to see the images again to confirm their loved ones' identities.
These leaked images serve as a grim testament to the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Iran and the urgent need for international attention on the plight of those affected.
