Politis

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

Published January 13, 2026, 14:26
Iran Prepares to Execute 26-Year-Old Erfan for Participation in Anti-Regime Protests

Iran is preparing to execute 26-year-old Erfan Soltani for participating in anti-regime protests, with the charge of “waging war against God.” The impending execution is drawing strong condemnation from human rights organizations, such as Iran Human Rights and the National Union for Democracy in Iran, who warn of an escalation in repression and mass executions of protesters. Soltani is alleged to have been denied access to a lawyer during the proceedings. Iran Human Rights denounces that the widespread killings of unarmed protesters recall the crimes of the regime in the 1980s, which have been recognized as crimes against humanity. The organization is calling on the international community to take action, invoking the principle of the “Responsibility to Protect.” The National Union for Democracy in Iran is calling for international mobilization to prevent Soltani’s execution, emphasizing that his only “crime” was demanding freedom for Iran. The government has made over 10,000 arrests in the crackdown on protests. The situation remains critical, with fears of further escalation of violence and human rights violations.