Iranian doctors organize under the name "Iran's Red Lion and Sun" to save people

The "Iranian Red Lion and Sun" folk medical groups announced their existence; in the crisis of treatment and repression, doctors, nurses, and volunteers have come to the aid of the people.

In the midst of an unprecedented political, social, and humanitarian crisis, Iran is moving toward structural collapse from all sides. The killing of protesters, brutal repression, internet shutdowns, and information control, along with economic pressure and inflation, have brought society to the brink of explosion.

But one of the most critical aspects of this crisis is the disaster in the field of treatment and healthcare, where patients and injured people in the protests are at risk of death due to severe restrictions on access to medical facilities.

Credible reports indicate that tens of thousands of people were injured in the massive wave of protests in January, but many were forced to receive treatment secretly at home due to limited access or fear of arrest, a situation that has significantly increased deaths and disabilities among protesters.

A new wave of reports suggests that the Islamic Republic's security forces have not only disrupted treatment for the injured, but have also targeted and detained doctors and medical staff who were helping the protesters. According to independent media and human rights organizations:

A number of doctors, nurses, and paramedics have been arrested by security forces after treating the injured in hospitals or at home.

 In some cases, the repressive forces have been present at medical centers and have transported the injured along with medical staff to unknown locations.

The wave of arrests has been so widespread that many detained doctors are now being held in uncertain conditions, without access to lawyers or family, a situation that has created the most worrying 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 life-threatening risks.

In response to this emergency and the lack of official support, a group of doctors, nurses, paramedics, and volunteer citizens announced that they had formed the “Iranian Red Lion and Sun People’s Groups,” an independent relief network aimed at assisting the injured, alleviating the suffering of the affected, and strengthening community-based resilience. They issued and published a statement regarding the formation of the “Iranian Red Lion and Sun People’s Group,” the full text of which is as follows:

"We speak in days when Iran is wounded. The Iranian people are grieving and angry over the loss of at least 30,000 of their best children. Tens of thousands more have suffered physical injuries and deep psychological trauma.

There are worrying reports that many of the injured are being treated at home in secret, while others are being denied medical attention due to lack of safe access to a trusted doctor or treatment facilities. Unfortunately, some of them are in critical condition.

At the same time, reports indicate that the Revolutionary Guards' repressive forces have taken the wounded away from hospitals or have arrested a number of citizens in their homes after reviewing patient lists.

We, a group of doctors, nurses, paramedics, pharmacists, psychiatrists, and volunteer citizens, declare our existence in the form of the "Iranian Red Lion and Sun People's Groups."

Our mission is to provide safe medical and therapeutic relief, community-based outreach, public education for crisis, and emergency livelihood support. We make a pact with people to stand by them to the best of our ability, knowledge, and resources.

"Be ready, to save the lives of Iranians, to save Iran. The popular groups of the Red Lion and Sun of Iran, alongside the people, for the people."

This unprecedented move demonstrates that, with the complete weakening of official institutions and fear of punishment among healthcare professionals, Iranian society has been forced to rely on grassroots networks to respond to fundamental crises. Unlike in the past, when official organizations were prominent providers of healthcare services, public trust in government structures has now been eroded, doctors and nurses are under threat and detention, official healthcare facilities have become virtually inaccessible, and society has been forced to form independent, neighborhood-based networks.

This development is not only unprecedented, but also represents the structural death of the government-based health system and the birth of a grassroots relief system, right at the peak of the need for sacrifice and solidarity.

The wave of repression of doctors and medical staff 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, violations of medical rights, and denial of access to medical care, and have called for immediate investigation and targeted sanctions.

In such a situation, the formation of the "Iranian Red Lion and Sun People's Groups" is not just a humanitarian response, but also a human uprising against injustice, oppression, and the medical crisis.