Overview
- Hengaw and Iran Human Rights say Erfan Soltani was arrested on January 8 in Fardis near Karaj, with his family told four days later that he would be executed on January 14.
- Rights groups report he was denied legal representation, his lawyer sister was blocked from the case file, and the family was allowed only a brief visit before the planned hanging.
- Soltani is reportedly accused of “waging war against God,” an offense punishable by death under Iranian law, though independent verification is constrained by nationwide communications restrictions.
- The case is described as the first known execution tied to the latest protests, which began over a currency collapse and inflation and have expanded across most provinces with mass arrests and widely varying reported death tolls.
- International pressure is mounting as President Trump warns of strong U.S. action and proposes tariffs, while Iranian officials denounce foreign interference and threaten retaliation.