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Death sentence of Erfan Soltani

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Erfan Soltani (Persian: عرفان سلطانی; born 1999[1]) is a 26-year-old Iranian demonstrator detained during the 2025–2026 nationwide anti-government protests. According to Western media and certain opposition groups, he was allegedly sentenced to death by Iranian authorities.[2]

Soltani was arrested on 8 January 2026 and opposition groups claimed he was charged with "waging war against God" (Persian: محاربه, romanized: moharebeh), a capital offense under Iranian law.[3][4] Soltani's execution was expected to be carried out via hanging on 14 January 2026. Human rights organizations reported Soltani was denied a lawyer and was not given a trial before his sentence.[5][6] Iranian judiciary refuted the allegations, stating Soltani was charged with "colluding against national security" and "propaganda activities against the establishment," offenses which are not punishable by the death penalty in Iran.[7][8] On 15 January 2026, Erfan Soltani's family said prison authorities informed them that his execution had been postponed.[9] International media and human rights organisations have cited Soltani as an example of the Iranian authorities' handling of detainees during the January 2026 nationwide protests.[10]

Iranian judiciary refuted the allegations of Soltani having ever been convicted and he was released shortly after his arrest.[11][12] On 15 January 2026, Erfan Soltani's family said prison authorities informed them that his execution had been postponed.[13] International media and human rights organisations have cited Soltani as an example of the Iranian authorities' handling of detainees during the January 2026 nationwide protests.[14]

Soltani would be the first civilian sentenced to death over his participation in the recent protests.[15][16] The Iranian government reacted to the protests with violent crackdowns and repression under an internet blackout, resulting in an estimated 500 to 20,000 civilian deaths. It has been described as the largest massacre in modern Iranian history.[17][18][19]


Background

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Main article: 2025–2026 Iranian protests

The protests began on 28 December 2025 in Tehran amid economic hardship and quickly spread to all 31 provinces in Iran with anti-government slogans and calls for regime change.[20][21]

The government reacted with violent crackdowns and thousands of arrests, using live ammunition against protesters.[22] The number of civilians killed is unclear due to the internet and phone blackout the government implemented as part of their suppression.[23] Reports indicate that the number of casualties ranges between 2,000 and 20,000 people.[24][25][19] Nobel Peace Prize winner Shirin Ebadi referred to the mass killings as a planned "massacre under the cover of a sweeping communications blackout".[26][27]

The Islamic Republic refers to protesters against the government as moharebeh (a term meaning "war against God"), and their actions are punishable by death. In reaction to the recent anti-government protests, Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei said "rioters must be put in their place".[28] Mohammad Movahedi Azad, Iran's attorney general, warned that protesters are an "enemy of God", a crime punishable by death under Iranian law.[29] Human rights groups say Iran is the world's second-largest user of capital punishment after China, with at least 1,500 hangings recorded last year, according to Iran Human Rights.[30]

Arrest and detention

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Erfan Soltani, a 26-year-old resident of Fardis, Karaj, was arrested in his home on 8 January 2026, during ongoing anti-government protests in Iran. Following Soltani's arrest, several reports said he was refused any legal representation and was not given a trial before his sentence was decided.[31][32][33] His family reported they only found out about Soltani's arrest days later and would only be allowed to see him for 10 minutes before his execution scheduled for 14 January 2026.[34]

Soltani's hanging would be the first execution related to the recent anti-government protests in Iran. The Australian reported that "His execution is expected to be the first of many".[35][36]

On 15 January 2026, the family of Erfan Soltani said that prison authorities had contacted them and informed them that his execution was postponed, without offering further details.[37][38] On 18 January, Soltani was reported by his family to be in good physical health.[39]

On 31 January, he was released on bail of two billion tomans.[40]

Reactions

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The execution sentence was widely reported across international media outlets. United States President Donald Trump warned Iran over Soltani's execution with "very strong action".[41][42] Iran Human Rights reports that protesters are being killed on a mass scale during the crackdowns and warns that the number of executions may increase. The organization urges the international community to take immediate action.[43] Amnesty International called on international organizations to demand that Iran's authorities stop the executions, including Soltani's case.[4]

Entities including Hengaw and Iran Human Rights described his case as emblematic of the authorities' use of expedited procedures and severe punishments to deter dissent during the protests.[44]

On 15 January, the Iranian judiciary dismissed foreign media reports of Soltani's impending execution as a "fabrication". The Iranian judiciary stated that Soltani was accused of "conspiring against national security" and engaging in "propaganda against the regime," offenses that do not carry the death penalty, according to the state broadcaster IRIB.[45]

References

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  1. ^ "Iran set to execute first protester after 'no trial and no due process'". The National.
  2. ^ "Iranian man faces execution after joining anti-regime protests". The Telegraph.
  3. ^ "Iran protests persist amid Internet blackout, mass arrests". DW. Retrieved 2026-01-14.
  4. ^ a b "Iran threatens death penalty for 'rioters' as concern grows for protester". France 24. 2026-01-13. Retrieved 2026-01-14.
  5. ^ "هشدار هه‌نگاو نسبت بە اجرای قریب‌الوقوع حکم اعدام عرفان سلطانی تنها چند روز پس از بازداشت". Hengaw (in Persian). Retrieved 2026-01-14.
  6. ^ Yeung, Isobel (2026-01-14). Iranian protester Erfan Soltani faces execution. CNN. Retrieved 2026-01-14.
  7. ^ "Iran judiciary denies plan to execute detained protester Erfan Soltani". BBC.
  8. ^ "Relative speaks out on plight of arrested Iranian protester Erfan Soltani". ABC News.
  9. ^ Parent, Deepa; Christou, William (2026-01-14). "Execution of condemned Iranian protester postponed, family told". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on 2026-01-15. Retrieved 2026-01-15.
  10. ^ "Iran set to execute first protester after 'no trial and no due process'". The National.
  11. ^ "Iran judiciary denies plan to execute detained protester Erfan Soltani". BBC.
  12. ^ "Relative speaks out on plight of arrested Iranian protester Erfan Soltani". ABC News.
  13. ^ Parent, Deepa; Christou, William (2026-01-14). "Execution of condemned Iranian protester postponed, family told". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on 2026-01-15. Retrieved 2026-01-15.
  14. ^ "Iran set to execute first protester after 'no trial and no due process'". The National.
  15. ^ Cursino, Malu. "Who is Erfan Soltani, Iranian protester who reportedly had execution postponed?". BBC.
  16. ^ Mion, Landon (2026-01-12). "Iran set to hang protester in what would mark first execution tied to anti-regime demonstrations". Fox News. Retrieved 2026-01-14.
  17. ^ "Deadly Crackdown in Iran as Protests Wrap Up Second Week Under Total Internet Blackout". HSToday.
  18. ^ Christou, William; Parent, Deepa (2026-01-11). "Iran protesters tell of brutal police response as regime lashes out". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2026-01-14.
  19. ^ a b "Iran protests death toll could be as high as 20,000". Iran International. 2026-01-13. Retrieved 2026-01-14.
  20. ^ Parent, Deepa; Christou, William (2025-12-31). "'We want the mullahs gone': economic crisis sparks biggest protests in Iran since 2022". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2026-01-14.
  21. ^ Therme, Clément (2026-01-12). "Why Moscow may be central to Tehran's struggle for survival". Iran International. Retrieved 2026-01-14.
  22. ^ Christou, William; Parent, Deepa (2026-01-11). "Iran protesters tell of brutal police response as regime lashes out". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2026-01-14.
  23. ^ "Day Seventeen of Iran's Protests: Continued Internet Shutdown, Spike in Figures, and Intensifying Global Reactions". Hrana. 2026-01-13. Archived from the original on 2026-01-14. Retrieved 2026-01-14.
  24. ^ "Over 12,000 feared dead after Iran protests, as video shows bodies lined up at morgue". CBS News. 2026-01-13. Retrieved 2026-01-14.
  25. ^ "The new Iranian revolution has begun". Brookings. Retrieved 2026-01-14.
  26. ^ "Iran: 'The killing of peaceful demonstrators must stop,' UN rights chief says". UNGeneva. 2026-01-13. Retrieved 2026-01-14.
  27. ^ "At least 12,000 killed in Iran crackdown during internet blackout". Iran International. 2026-01-13. Retrieved 2026-01-14.
  28. ^ "Iran's leader says rioters 'must be put in their place'". ABC News. Retrieved 2026-01-14.
  29. ^ "'Enemies of God': Iran vows crackdown as protests boil over; death penalty warning issued". The Times of India. 2026-01-10. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 2026-01-14.
  30. ^ Sedghi, Amy; Ratcliffe, Rebecca; Saunokonoko, Mark (2026-01-14). "Iran's judiciary vows fast trials for arrested protesters despite Trump threats – live". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2026-01-14.
  31. ^ "At Least 648 Protesters Killed in Iran; IHRNGO Warns of Imminent Protester Executions". Iran Human Rights. Retrieved 2026-01-14.
  32. ^ "عرفان سلطانی؛ ۵ روز پیش دستگیر شد، گفته‌اند فردا اعدامش می‌کنیم". IranWire (in Persian). Retrieved 2026-01-14.
  33. ^ "Iranian protester faces imminent execution, rights group says". Iran International. 2026-01-13. Retrieved 2026-01-14.
  34. ^ "Iran protester, 26, to be executed today, family got just 10 minutes for final meeting". India Today. 2026-01-14. Retrieved 2026-01-14.
  35. ^ Barrowclough, Anne. "Iranian protester Erfan Soltani faces execution within hours". The Australian.
  36. ^ "Iran latest: Trump warns of 'very strong action' if Iran executes protesters". BBC News. 2026-01-14. Retrieved 2026-01-14.
  37. ^ Parent, Deepa; Christou, William (2026-01-14). "Execution of condemned Iranian protester postponed, family told". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on 2026-01-15. Retrieved 2026-01-15.
  38. ^ Latif Dahir, Abdi; Mahoozi, Sanam; Livni, Ephrat (14 January 2026). "Iran Postpones Execution of Protester as Trump Threatens 'Strong Action'". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 15 January 2026. Retrieved 15 January 2026.
  39. ^ Barrowclough, Anne. "Iranian protester Erfan Soltani faces execution within hours". The Australian.
  40. ^ "Iranian protester Erfan Soltani released on bail, reports say". www.bbc.com. 1 February 2026. Retrieved 1 February 2026.
  41. ^ "Trump vows 'very tough' action if Iran executes protesters". CNA. 2026-01-14. Retrieved 2026-01-14.
  42. ^ "Iran latest: Trump warns of 'very strong action' if Iran executes protesters". BBC News. 2026-01-14. Retrieved 2026-01-14.
  43. ^ "At Least 648 Protesters Killed in Iran; IHRNGO Warns of Imminent Protester Executions". Iran Human Rights. Retrieved 2026-01-14.
  44. ^ "Iranian protester to be executed tomorrow as regime steps up brutal crackdown, rights group claims". The Independent.
  45. ^ "Iran judiciary denies plan to execute detained protester Erfan Soltani". BBC.
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