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Who is Erfan Soltani?
Erfan Soltani is a 26-year-old from Fardis in the Karaj suburb near Tehran. He was reportedly arrested for participating in anti-Ayatollah Ali Khamenei protests that have spread across Iran since early January.
Erfan has been charged with “waging war against God,” a crime punishable by death in Iran, according to The US Sun report.
According to Iran Human Rights (IHR), Erfan’s family was told that he had been sentenced to death, “and that the sentence is due to be carried out on 14 January”.
Erfan’s “only crime is calling for freedom for Iran,” said the National Union for Democracy in Iran (NUFD), and has urged the international community to intervene to stop the execution.
The 26-year-old has been denied basic legal rights, including access to a lawyer, human rights groups alleged. According to media reports, his sister, who is a licensed lawyer, has also been prevented from reviewing his case file or representing him.
However, another report said that the Soltani family was allowed a brief 10-minute visit after they were informed of the death sentence on January 11.
Warning that Erfan’s execution could be “the first of many,” Lebanese-Australian entrepreneur Mario Nawfal on X alleged that authorities are using fear to suppress dissent. He also claimed that nearly 2,000 people have died in the unrest.
Iran's anti-Khamenei protests
The protests erupted in late December 2025 amid severe economic distress, including a sharp fall in the value of the Iranian rial, rising inflation, and soaring prices of essential goods. What began in Tehran’s bazaars quickly spread nationwide, drawing participation from students, shopkeepers, and working-class citizens.
Iranian authorities have described protesters as “rioters” and launched a sweeping crackdown.
At least 544 people have been killed, and more than 10,681 individuals have been arrested and transferred to prisons, according to a report by the Human Rights News Agency.
The last major protests were the 2022-2023 demonstrations sparked by the death in custody of Mahsa Amini who had been arrested for allegedly violating the Islamic dress code for women. In 2009, mass rallies took place after disputed elections.
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