In a chilling escalation of its crackdown on dissent, Iran’s regime has ordered the execution of 26-year-old protester Irfan Soltani, arrested during widespread anti-government demonstrations. Scheduled for Wednesday, this hanging marks the first death penalty directly linked to the current unrest against Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Solani was detained on January 8 for participating in protests, charged with ‘moharebeh’—enmity against God. Reports indicate that after days of uncertainty, his family was abruptly informed of the death sentence without details of formal charges or a court hearing. They were granted a mere 10 minutes to bid him farewell, leaving them in shock and fear.
Iranian authorities reportedly warned the family against speaking to media or activists, threatening arrests if they shared any information. This swift sentencing, just a week after arrest, has drawn sharp condemnation from international law experts and human rights groups, who see it as a tactic to terrorize protesters through field executions—public killings without due process.
The protests, now in their third week, have engulfed over 280 locations nationwide. Activists estimate at least 2,000 deaths and 20,000 arrests amid a near-total internet blackout lasting over 130 hours. Desperate Iranians attempted to bypass restrictions using Starlink satellite internet, but security forces jammed signals with military-grade equipment, raided homes, seized terminals, and punished users.
This execution, if carried out, underscores the regime’s ruthless strategy to crush opposition. As global outrage mounts, the world watches whether international pressure can halt this tragedy or if it signals more bloodshed ahead.