Iran airing ‘forced confession’ videos at unprecedented rate

WorldPolitics
14 Jan 2026 • 2:58 PM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

The world’s most free-thinking newspaper

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  • Iranian state media has broadcast at least 97 confessions from protesters since demonstrations began on 28 December.
  • Human rights activists allege that these confessions are obtained through torture.
  • Iranian officials present these confessions, which frequently mention the US or Israel, as evidence of foreign plots behind the ongoing protests.
  • The rapid rate of these broadcasts is unprecedented, significantly surpassing the number of televised confessions seen in previous years.
  • Concerns are mounting over a potential increase in executions linked to these recent protests, as many of the video confessions relate to security-related offences punishable by death.

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