Erfan Soltani, a 26-year-old Iranian protester, faces imminent hanging in the first reported execution tied to anti-Khamenei protests. Learn about his case, the due process violations, and why activists are warning of more.
First Protest Hanging in Iran: Erfan Soltani, 26, Faces Execution (Image: File)
TEHRAN, Iran, January 13 —Iranian authorities are preparing to carry out the first reported execution by hanging directly linked to the nationwide anti-Khamenei protests, sentencing 26-year-old Erfan Soltani to death in a case activists warn is a fast-tracked deterrent. Soltani’s imminent execution marks a severe escalation in the regime’s response to months of unrest.
Erfan Soltani is a 26-year-old resident of Fardis, a suburb of Karaj near Tehran. He was arrested on January 8, 2026, for participating in the widespread protests against the regime of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. His case has drawn international attention as potentially the first hanging related specifically to the current “anti-Khamenei” demonstration wave that began in late December 2025.
According to reports from human rights groups and media outlets including Jfeed, Soltani’s family was informed on January 11 that he had been sentenced to death. The execution by hanging is scheduled for Wednesday, January 14, 2026. Authorities reportedly told the family the sentence is final, allowing only a brief, 10-minute final visit after delivering the verdict.
Human rights organizations have raised severe due process violations. According to the Hengaw Organization for Human Rights and other organizations, Soltani was deprived of fundamental legal rights as soon as he was taken into custody. Important issues include:
No Legal Counsel: He was denied access to a lawyer.
Family Kept in Dark: His family was not informed which authority arrested him.
Barred Representation: His sister, a licensed lawyer, has been denied access to his case file and prohibited from representing him or challenging the sentence.
This case represents a tactical escalation. While Iran has previously used lethal force—largely shootings—to quell dissent, Soltani’s would be the first reported hanging specifically tied to the current anti-Khamenei protests. Activists and analysts, like Lebanese-Australian entrepreneur Mario Nawfal, warn this could be the “first of many” fast-tracked, publicized executions designed to instill fear and deter further demonstrations.
Late December 2025 saw the start of the most recent protest wave, which was brought on by extreme economic hardship, including a falling Iranian Rial, widespread inflation, and skyrocketing prices for necessities.With widespread calls for political change and an end to the authority of the clerical leadership, what began as economic protests in Tehran's bazaars swiftly grew into one of the biggest national movements in recent memory.
