BBC Persian has documented the identities of more than 260 individuals among the dead, providing names, photographs, and personal details. Such documentation transforms statistics into human stories. Each name represents a life interrupted, a family grieving, and a community altered. The effort to record identities underscores the importance of memory and accountability in the aftermath of political violence.
The divergence between official figures and independent estimates raises significant questions about transparency, information control, and the nature of political authority. In moments of mass unrest, governments often seek to shape public perception swiftly. By defining categories of victims and attributing responsibility, authorities attempt to contain the political fallout. Yet alternative sources of information — activists, journalists, and international observers — challenge these narratives, creating a contested space in which truth itself becomes a subject of struggle.
