Iran to Execute Protester Erfan Soltani Wednesday

Iranian authorities are set to execute 26-year-old Erfan Soltani on Wednesday for his participation in nationwide antigovernment protests, marking the first known death sentence linked to the ongoing unrest, according to human rights organizations.

Soltani, a resident of Fardis near Karaj on the outskirts of Tehran and owner of a clothing shop, was arrested at his home on January 8. He faces charges of waging war against God, a capital offense under Iranian law. Sources close to his family reported that authorities informed them on January 11 or 12 that the sentence was final, allowing only a brief 10-minute visit before the execution. Soltani was denied access to legal representation, and his sister, a licensed lawyer, was prevented from reviewing the case file or defending him. No details about the charges or judicial proceedings have been disclosed to the family, and human rights groups described the process as a rushed procedure without a fair trial.

The Hengaw Organization for Human Rights, based in Norway, called the case a clear violation of international human rights law, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. "This imposition and planned...