Over 36,500 killed in Iran's deadliest massacre, documents reveal

Scale and Plausibility of the Massacre

• Many commenters struggle to grasp the logistics of 36k+ killed in two days, asking how this is possible without heavy explosives.
• Others argue it is sadly feasible in a large country (≈93M people) with 400+ cities seeing protests: ~100 deaths per location, plus execution of wounded protesters in hospitals and detainees.
• Historical analogies (Rwanda, Nazi Germany) are raised to show that mass killing at such rates is logistically possible, though still horrifying.
• Some remain skeptical of the exact number, comparing it to past atrocity exaggerations and calling for better methodology and corroboration from independent sources.

Role of Mercenaries and Internal Divisions

• Several comments claim non-local or foreign proxy forces (from Iraq, Syria, Hezbollah, Arab militants) were used to repress protests, making it easier to kill “outsiders.”
• Others stress Iran’s internal ethnic and religious diversity (Kurds, Azeris, Baloch, Arabs, religious minorities), arguing that even “domestic” forces may see protesters as an outgroup.
• Debate over whether “mercenaries” implies pay-driven killers versus ideologically aligned proxy militias.

Source Reliability and Propaganda Concerns

• Iran International is repeatedly described as Saudi-backed and anti-regime; some see it as “state-aligned influence media” or possibly intelligence-linked.
• Others defend it as diaspora-run and note corroborating reports from human rights groups and mainstream outlets, arguing bias does not imply falsity.
• A thread questions whether inflated numbers might be used to justify foreign intervention or to shape US/Israeli strategic interests.

Global Reactions, Politics, and Double Standards

• Anger that mass killing in Iran gets far less Western public outrage than single domestic incidents (e.g., US police/ICE killings) or some foreign wars.
• Contentious debate over whether “the left,” US college students, and various foreign-backed protest movements are selectively silent due to ideological or financial ties.
• Some argue state violence against citizens and wars between states are treated differently mainly for pragmatic/geopolitical, not moral, reasons.

Sanctions, Protest Strategy, and Future Outlook

• Doubts about sanctions and “civilian pressure” as effective when regimes can rely on external forces to do their killing.
• Civil disobedience (e.g., mass work stoppages) is proposed but seen as hard under censorship and repression.
• Commenters fear this marks the end of peaceful protest in Iran, with the country drifting either toward violent revolution or hardened police-state rule.