Iranian Medical Professionals Form 'People's Red Lion and Sun Groups' Amid Humanitarian Crisis

Grassroots Network Emerges to Address Medical Emergency

A new grassroots network of Iranian medical professionals, calling itself the 'People's Red Lion and Sun Groups of Iran,' has announced its formation to provide safe medical relief and community-based support. The group issued its founding statement on Tuesday, approximately a month after nationwide protests erupted across the country, leading to a severe crackdown.

The network comprises doctors, nurses, paramedics, and volunteers who aim to address what they describe as a deepening humanitarian emergency.

Humanitarian Crisis Deepens Amidst Crackdown

The formation of the 'People's Red Lion and Sun Groups of Iran' comes in response to a dire situation following protest crackdowns. Reports indicate that the violence has resulted in more than 36,500 deaths and tens of thousands more suffering physical injuries and profound psychological trauma.

The network's statement highlights that many wounded individuals are forced into hiding, unable to seek open medical treatment due to fear of arrest or retaliation. There have been alarming reports of security forces:

• Entering hospitals and detaining injured people.
• Arresting citizens at home by reviewing patient lists.
• Attacking medical centers and intimidating healthcare workers.

Human rights groups and international organizations, including the World Health Organization (WHO), have raised concerns about the targeting of medical staff. At least 32 members of the medical staff have reportedly been detained, with some facing serious charges such as 'waging war against God' for providing care to injured protesters.

Reviving a Historic Symbol for Humanitarian Aid

The group's name, 'People's Red Lion and Sun Groups of Iran,' deliberately revives a historic emblem associated with humanitarian aid in Iran prior to the 1979 Islamic Revolution. The original Red Lion and Sun Society of Iran was established in 1922 and admitted to the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement in 1929. While the Islamic Republic of Iran replaced this emblem with the Red Crescent in 1980, the Geneva Conventions continue to recognize the Red Lion and Sun as an official emblem.

By restoring this symbol, the organizers aim to emphasize 'heritage, humanity, and collective responsibility.' They assert that their identity is 'human and relief-based, not political,' and their absolute priority is 'saving human lives.' The network has committed to non-negotiable principles, including:

• Ensuring citizen safety and privacy as 'red lines.'
• Operating without mechanisms for registration, list-making, or traceable recruitment.
• Functioning as an educational and resilience-based network built around decentralized neighborhood cells, rather than a centralized organization.

The founders state, 'Our work is education, not organization,' and that 'All local cells will be independent and self-governed,' to allow for rapid and secure assistance under challenging conditions.