Iran To Hang 26-Year-Old In First Reported Execution Amid Anti-Khamenei Protests

Last Updated:January 13, 2026, 07:53 IST

What started as economic grievances gradually snowballed into a massive demonstration against Ali Khamenei, with protests spreading across the country since early January.

Erfan Soltani, 26, to be executed to death sentence, first execution in current anti-Khamenei protests in Iran

Iran is gearing up to carry out what would be the first hanging execution amid the nationwide anti-Khamenei protests, with Erfan Soltani, 26, facing an imminent death sentence for participating in the protests, India Today reports.

Soltani, a resident of Fardis in Karaj suburb of Tehran, was apprehended on January 8 for participating in the nationwide protests against Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. What started as economic grievances gradually snowballed into a massive demonstration against Ali Khamenei, with protests spreading across the country since early January.

Meanwhile, Soltani’s sentence is scheduled to be held on Wednesday, January 14, according to a human rights group and media reports.

While around 600 people have died in the nationwide protests against the Iranian regime, those deaths have largely been carried out through shootings. Soltani will be the first one to be hanged to death in the current protests.

According to a report by Israel- and US-based news outlet Jfeed, Soltani’s case might mark the beginning of a series of fast-track executions aimed at curbing any further demonstrations against the regime.

Since his arrest, Soltani has allegedly been denied basic legal rights, including access to legal counsel and the opportunity to present a defence, reported the outlet, adding that his family has been kept in the dark regarding the developments in the case and the identity of the authority that arrested him.

On January 11, the family of the 26-year-old was informed that he had been sentenced to death, the report said, citing Hengaw Organisation. After this, they were allowed only a brief 10-minute visit with him post the sentence.

Why anti-Khamenei protests are happening in Iran  

Protests erupted in Iran in early January due to economic distress, a fall in the value of the Iranian Rial, which, in turn, led to a massive rise in inflation

The protests, which kicked off in Tehran’s bazaars, quickly spread to many other cities as shopkeepers, students, and ordinary citizens took to the streets and demanded relief from the economic distress.

News world Iran To Hang 26-Year-Old In First Reported Execution Amid Anti-Khamenei Protests

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