Erfan Soltani has not been sentenced to execution, Iranian judiciary officials declared Thursday, refuting his family's assertions that capital punishment had been imposed on the detained protester, the opposition outlet Iran International reported.
Authorities confirmed Soltani's detention at Karaj's central penitentiary, where he faces formal charges of "collusion against internal security" and "propaganda activities against the system," state media reported. Officials stressed that no execution order exists and that Iranian law prohibits capital punishment for these specific accusations.
Soltani's family had previously asserted he received a death sentence, sparking concern among activists as Tehran intensifies its suppression campaign against demonstrators following nationwide unrest. Social media erupted with videos sharing Soltani's story to raise awareness of the matter internationally, aiming to pressure the regime to avoid an execution.
Tehran historically pursues graver charges in protest cases, including moharebeh – typically rendered as "waging war against God" – which permits execution under the Islamic Republic's legal framework, according to Iran International.
During earlier protest waves, international criticism mounted as rights organizations documented Iranian authorities' application of capital cases to certain detainees, with charges including moharebeh and "corruption on earth" drawing condemnation.
