The Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions (CFNU) condemns the violent repression of protests and strikes that began in Iran this January. Between January 7-8, 2026, many people were killed during the protests. While it is difficult to verify the number of deaths, estimates are as high as 33,000. This number of lost lives is both shocking and abhorrent.
Additionally, human rights monitoring organizations and the media have revealed that health care workers assisting wounded people during the protests were seemingly targeted and, in the subsequent weeks following the protests, they are being sought out for arrest.
The CFNU joins many in the global labour and health care community in calling for the immediate end to the ongoing crackdown on health care workers and civilians following the January protests. International humanitarian law specifically protects medical personnel in situations of conflict. The right to medical care is also protected under Article 25 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, in all circumstances. Health care workers cannot be the target of violence and retribution and must be entitled to carry out duties without interference.
The CFNU calls on the Government of Canada to do all within its means to assist in ending this human rights crisis in Iran. This includes using all available diplomatic channels to pressure Iranian authorities to respect human rights and supporting international efforts to protect workers and health care professionals.
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The CFNU is Canada’s largest nurses’ organization, representing 250,000 frontline unionized nurses and nursing students in every sector of health care – from home care and LTC to community and acute care – and advocating on key priorities to strengthen public health care across the country.
For more information, please contact Adella Khan, media@nursesunions.ca, 613‑807‑2942.