Iran releases protester facing death sentence threat PHOTO

Iranian authorities have temporarily released Erfan Soltani, a participant in the January protests, reportedly facing a death sentence, on $12,600 bail, his lawyer said.

Officially, he was accused of “gathering information and conspiring against internal security” and “propaganda activities against the regime,” Caliber.Az reports via British media. 

Soltani was arrested on January 8 in Fardis, just west of Tehran, as nationwide protests triggered a deadly crackdown by Iranian authorities.

His family was later told he was scheduled for execution within days, without further details, according to Norway-based Kurdish human rights group Hengaw. 

However, Iran’s judiciary denied he had been sentenced to death, stating he faced security-related charges that carry only prison terms.

Mass protests broke out across Iran in late December 2025, driven by worsening economic conditions, including soaring inflation, a steep decline in the Iranian rial, and rising prices for food and essential goods. 

The unrest started with shop closures and strikes in Tehran’s commercial districts and quickly spread to cities across the country.

Since the start of the protests, more than 6,400 demonstrators have been killed and over 1,000 arrested, according to the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA).

By Jeyhun Aghazada