An Iranian-born pastor told The Daily Signal that four members of his family were shot in Iran during the recent protests against the regime, and that the death toll of protesters may exceed current estimates.

“Just imagine if four in one family can be shot, imagine the scale of the massacre,” said Ramin Parsa, an Iranian-born pastor currently living in Jerusalem.

Anti-regime protests began in Iran on Dec. 28. Initially, authorities were reported to be using pellet guns to disperse crowds, but then began using live ammunition.  

The number of protesters killed is unknown due to limited information coming out of Iran amid regime-imposed internet blackouts, but estimates of the death toll range from 6,000 to more than 30,000.

Some, including Parsa, argue the number killed could be even higher.  

Parsa, 40, was born in Iran but, fearing for his safety, fled in 2006 after converting to Christianity as a young man. Parsa now lives in Israel, but has received some information from his family in Iran over the past month.  

“I talked to my brother for two minutes,” Parsa said, adding the call had to be short because “if it’s longer, they can listen to the conversation,” referring to authorities loyal to the Iranian regime.  

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