An Iranian woman who filmed violent crackdowns during 2026 protests now hides in fear, her footage verified by AP, after at least 6,854 were killed and internet was cut for a month.

A 37-year-old Iranian beautician, who filmed government violence during nationwide protests in January 2026 sparked by economic crisis and currency collapse, now lives in fear, avoiding public spaces after documenting tear gas, gunfire, and mass arrests. Her footage, verified by the Associated Press, shows her urging defiance amid chaos, but she has since gone into hiding, suffering anxiety and sleeplessness. At least 6,854 people were killed, over 50,000 detained, and internet access was cut for a month. Though she previously participated in the 2022 protests after Mahsa Amini’s death, she now feels disillusioned, isolated, and abandoned, with no faith in international diplomacy. Her identity remains protected to ensure her safety.