Erfan Soltani, 26, faces death penalty without trial amid nationwide crackdown
Iranian authorities have reportedly given a detained protester just ten minutes to bid farewell to his family ahead of his scheduled execution, intensifying global concern over Tehran’s escalating crackdown on anti-government demonstrations.
The protester, Erfan Soltani, a 26-year-old garment worker, was arrested on January 8 while participating in a street protest in Karaj, west of Tehran. According to reports by IranWire, Soltani was briefly allowed to meet his family after his arrest, during which security officials allegedly informed them that it would be their final meeting before his execution.
Norway-based human rights group Iran Human Rights (IHR) said Soltani is believed to be the first detained protester whose execution date has been formally finalized since the latest wave of unrest began. The organization has accused Iranian authorities of attempting to carry out the death sentence without any meaningful legal process, including access to a defense lawyer or a fair trial.
“This appears to be an extrajudicial execution,” IHR said, adding that Soltani was denied even the most basic legal safeguards.
A family source told IranWire that a relative who is a lawyer attempted to take up Soltani’s case but was threatened by security officials.
“They told him there were no documents to review,” the source said. “They made it clear that anyone arrested from the protests would be executed.”
Local media reports further claim that Soltani’s family has been warned not to speak publicly or contact the press, under threat of arrest.
According to The U.S. Sun, Iranian prosecutors have charged Soltani with “waging war against God” (Moharebeh)—an offense under Iranian law that carries a mandatory death sentence.
Due to a nationwide internet and communications blackout, independent verification of the execution order remains difficult.
Growing unrest, mounting death toll
Soltani was among thousands protesting Iran’s economic collapse, government repression, and the impact of Western sanctions on daily life. Human rights organizations estimate that more than 10,000 protesters have been arrested since demonstrations erupted across 31 provinces in late December.
The U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) estimates that between 500 and 2,000 people may have been killed during the ongoing crackdown.
Iranian authorities have blamed the unrest on foreign interference, accusing the United States and Israel of fomenting instability.
Trump calls for continued protests
Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump renewed his support for Iranian protesters, urging them to continue demonstrations. In a post on his platform Truth Social, Trump wrote:
“Iranian patriots, KEEP PROTESTING — TAKE OVER YOUR INSTITUTIONS!!! … Help is on its way.”
Trump also announced that he has cancelled all meetings with Iranian officials, warning of possible further action if what he described as “indiscriminate killings” of protesters continue.
