Alpha News

Iran Prepares to Execute 26-Year-Old by Hanging for Participation in Anti-Regime Protests

Published January 13, 2026, 13:26

Iran is preparing to execute 26-year-old Erfan Soltani by hanging for his participation in anti-regime protests. The execution, if carried out, will be the first of a protester following the mass arrests (over 10,000) that followed the demonstrations. Human rights organizations, such as Iran Human Rights and the National Union for Democracy in Iran, have raised the alarm about an escalation of repression and are calling for international intervention. Soltani's family has been informed of his death sentence and the scheduled execution date of January 14th. Soltani is accused of “waging war against God,” an offense punishable by death in Iran. Details of the case remain unclear due to the extensive communications blackout in the country. Iran Human Rights accuses the Iranian regime of crimes against humanity, comparing the current executions to those of the 1980s. It calls on the international community to activate the principle of “Responsibility to Protect” to protect protesters.