Iranian artist on living under crackdown: “We are not okay, we are alone”

As Iran continues to grapple with nationwide protests and heavy state repression, an Iranian DJ and producer has spoken out about the human cost of the unrest and the deepening sense of despair among citizens across the country.

Proyal (Mohammad Ali Entezarian) told Mixmag MENA that the scale of repression and isolation has left many feeling abandoned and unheard:

“Like many artists from Iran, I am witnessing one of the darkest periods in my country’s recent history. Since the outbreak of nationwide protests in Iran, the regime has carried out widespread and systematic violence against civilians. Thousands of people have been killed; some estimates place the death toll at up to 36,000 individuals.

“Many protesters who were injured and sought medical treatment were identified by security forces inside hospitals and were then executed while lying in their beds. In a deeply disturbing practice, authorities later demanded financial compensation from the families in exchange for releasing the bodies of their loved ones.

“Throughout this period, internet access across Iran has been almost entirely shut down, isolating the population from the outside world and making it extremely difficult for accurate information to emerge. The atmosphere is heavily securitised, and fear is constant. Even writing this report puts me at risk of arrest. We are not okay, we are alone.

“As an artist who believes in freedom of expression and the unifying power of music, I felt compelled to speak out and ask for solidarity from the global electronic music community. The support I received from fellow DJs and artists has been deeply meaningful, and I believe platforms like Mixmag play a vital role in amplifying voices that would otherwise be silenced.”

The latest wave of protests in Iran began in late December 2025, initially sparked by economic grievances after the Iranian rial plunged to record lows and inflation and living costs surged, driving shopkeepers and merchants in Tehran’s Grand Bazaar onto the streets. What started as demonstrations over economic hardship quickly spread to other cities and evolved into broader public unrest, with protesters voicing wider demands for political change and an end to economic mismanagement. As of January 28, protests have been met with one of the harshest crackdowns in recent Iranian history, including mass arrests, widespread internet blackouts that have only partially eased, and violent suppression by security forces across multiple major cities. Estimates of the death toll vary widely — official figures put the number of fatalities in the low thousands, while human rights groups and hospital and witness networks suggest the total may be tens of thousands, with some estimates exceeding 30,000 — figures that remain difficult to independently verify amid restricted reporting conditions and continued communications limitations. Sporadic unrest continues in parts of the country under a heavy security presence.