Organization of Iranian Physicians Under the Banner of ‘Lion and Red Sun of Iran’ to Save the People

Grassroots medical groups under the banner of ‘Lion and Red Sun of Iran’ have announced their existence; in the face of healthcare crisis and repression, physicians, nurses, and volunteers have risen to aid the people.

In the midst of an unprecedented political, social, and humanitarian crisis, Iran’s situation is heading toward structural collapse from all directions. Killing of protesters, merciless repression, internet shutdown and information control, coupled with economic pressure and inflation, have brought society to the brink of explosion.

However, one of the most critical dimensions of this crisis is the catastrophe in the field of treatment and health; a place where patients and injured protesters have been put in mortal danger due to severe restrictions on access to medical facilities.

Credible reports show that during the widespread wave of December protests, tens of thousands have been wounded, but many of them have been forced to seek secret treatment at home due to access restrictions or fear of arrest, a situation that has significantly increased death and disability among protesters.

A fresh wave of reports indicates that not only have the Islamic Republic’s security forces disrupted treatment of the wounded, but they have also targeted and arrested physicians and medical staff who have been helping protesters. According to reports from independent media outlets and human rights organizations:

A number of physicians, nurses, and paramedics have been arrested by security forces after treating the wounded in hospitals or homes.

 In some cases, suppression forces, by appearing in medical centers, have transferred the wounded along with medical staff to unknown locations.

The wave of arrests has been so widespread that now many arrested physicians are being held in unclear conditions, without access to a lawyer or family, a situation that has created the most concerning human rights crisis.

These hostile attacks have not only reduced the resilience of Iranian society, but have also caused many patients who could have been treated to now face serious mortal danger.

In response to this emergency situation and lack of official support, a group of physicians, nurses, paramedics, and volunteer citizens announced that they have formed ‘Grassroots Groups of Lion and Red Sun of Iran,’ an independent relief network aimed at helping the wounded, reducing the suffering of victims, and strengthening community-based resilience. These individuals, in relation to the formation of ‘Grassroots Group of Lion and Red Sun of Iran,’ issued and published a statement, the full text of which is as follows:

‘We speak on days when Iran is wounded. The people of Iran are grieving and angry at losing at least 30,000 of their best children. Tens of thousands of others have suffered physical injuries and deep psychological trauma.

Concerning reports show that many of the wounded are forced to be treated at home and in secret, and another group, due to lack of safe access to a trusted physician or medical facilities, have been deprived of medical care. Unfortunately, the condition of some of them is serious.

At the same time, reports indicate that the suppression forces of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, by visiting hospitals, have taken the wounded with them or, by checking patient lists, have arrested a number of citizens in their homes.

We, a group of physicians, nurses, paramedics, pharmacists, psychiatrists, and volunteer citizens, within the framework of ‘Grassroots Groups of Lion and Red Sun of Iran,’ announce our existence.

Our mission is safe medical and therapeutic aid, community-based assistance, public education for crisis, and emergency livelihood support. We pledge to the people that we will stand by them to the best of our ability, knowledge, and means.

Be ready, to save the lives of Iranians, to save Iran. Grassroots Groups of Lion and Red Sun of Iran, beside the people, for the people.’

This unprecedented action demonstrates that, concurrent with the complete weakening of formal institutions and fear of punishment among medical personnel, Iranian society has become compelled to form autonomous grassroots networks to respond to fundamental crises. Unlike the past when formal organizations were presented as providers of medical services, now public trust in governmental structures has disappeared, physicians and nurses are under threat and arrest, official medical facilities have become practically inaccessible, and society has been forced to create independent and community-based networks.

This transformation is not only unprecedented, but demonstrates the structural death of a healthcare system dependent on government and the birth of a grassroots relief system, precisely at the height of the need for sacrifice and solidarity.

The wave of repression against physicians and medical personnel in Iran has become one of the most important manifestations of the human rights crisis. International organizations have repeatedly warned about the use of torture against detainees, violation of medical rights, and prevention of access to medical care, and have called for immediate investigation and the imposition of targeted sanctions.

In such a situation, the formation of ‘Grassroots Groups of Lion and Red Sun of Iran’ is not only a humanitarian response, but a human uprising against injustice, repression, and the healthcare crisis.