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Iranian protest detainee freed on bail amid execution claims
Erfan Soltani, a 26-year-old shop owner from Fardis, was released Saturday after weeks of conflicting reports about his sentencing, including allegations of an imminent execution.
Arrest and initial reports
Soltani was detained on January 8 during nationwide protests that triggered a violent government crackdown. A Norway-based Kurdish rights group, Hengaw, later told his family he had been sentenced to death and faced execution within days. The claim spread globally, with relatives telling BBC Persian a court had issued the death penalty in a rushed two-day process.
Government denial and bail
Iran's judiciary rejected the execution reports, stating Soltani faced only security-related charges carrying prison terms. His lawyer, Amir Mousakhani, confirmed to AFP that Soltani was freed on Saturday after posting bail equivalent to $12,600 (£9,200). The lawyer added that Soltani retrieved all personal belongings, including his phone.
Semi-official Iranian news agency Isna and Hengaw also reported the bail, though Hengaw later said the execution had been temporarily delayed based on family accounts.
International reactions and broader crackdown
Soltani's case drew global attention after former U.S. President Donald Trump threatened "very strong action" if executions proceeded. Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned that foreign intervention would escalate into regional conflict. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi dismissed the execution reports as "news fabrication" in a U.S. television interview, insisting no hangings were planned.
Meanwhile, the crackdown on protests has continued. The U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency reports over 6,300 confirmed deaths since late December, with investigations ongoing into 17,000 additional fatalities. Norway's Iran Human Rights group estimates the final toll could surpass 25,000.
Protesters describe unprecedented violence
In a Sunday address, Khamenei accused demonstrators of attacking police, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) facilities, banks, and mosques. Protesters told the BBC the security forces' response was unlike any previous crackdown, with reports of lethal force used widely.
