Iran faces global concern as rights groups warn that 26-year-old protester Erfan Soltani may become the first person executed in the current protest wave. At the centre of concern is 26-year-old protester Erfan Soltani, whose reported death sentence has sparked outrage among rights advocates. Erfan Soltani is a 26-year-old resident of Fardis, a district near Karaj, west of Tehran, an area that has witnessed sustained protest activity in recent weeks. Local human rights groups report that more than 10,000 people have been detained and over 500 protesters killed within a short period. Officials have characterised demonstrators as 'rioters,' while rights organisations warn that executions may be used to intimidate and suppress dissent.

Source: dna January 13, 2026 08:32 UTC