Rapper Meraj Tehrani witnessed what he calls a street massacre during recent protests that killed thousands across Iran.
The UK-based artist returned to Tehran on business in early January 2026 when demonstrations erupted nationwide. Tehrani told Sky News he saw millions of people unite for the first time in Iranian history. The protests started over economic problems but quickly turned into demands for regime change.
The rapper described Friday evening, January 9, as the turning point when mass killings began in Iran. Revolutionary Guards brought machine guns and started shooting protesters at random. Bodies were left on the streets as warnings to others considering joining demonstrations. Tehrani believes foreign forces, including Iraqi militia and Popular Mobilization Forces, helped Iranian authorities crush protests. These fighters knew how to kill efficiently by targeting the head and chest. The guards doing the killing looked different from normal Iranian security forces.
Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei admitted Saturday that “several thousand people” died during protests. US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency verified 3,090 deaths, including 2,885 protesters. The death toll continues rising as authorities maintain their crackdown. Tehrani’s experience reflects the dangerous reality facing Iranian artists who speak out against the regime.
Tehrani believes foreign forces, including Iraqi militia and Popular Mobilization Forces, helped Iranian authorities crush protests. These fighters knew how to kill efficiently by targeting the head and chest. The guards doing the killing looked different from normal Iranian security forces.