In a dramatic turn of events that has captured the attention of the international community, Erfan Soltani—the 26-year-old shopkeeper who became the first protester sentenced to death during Iran’s recent wave of unrest—has reportedly been granted a stay of execution. The reprieve came just hours after his scheduled execution on January 14, a date that many feared would mark a grim milestone in the state’s crackdown on dissent. Soltani’s case transitioned from a local tragedy to a global flashpoint after he was sentenced to death for his participation in a protest in Fardis, Karaj, on January 8. As the deadline for his sentence approached yesterday, reports surfaced detailing a harrowing final protocol: Soltani was to be granted a mere ten minutes to bid farewell to his family before facing the gallows.
A Nation in Turmoil
The shopkeeper’s plight unfolds against a backdrop of historic volatility. Since countrywide protests erupted in December, fueled by the collapse of the Iranian rial on December 28, the human cost has been staggering. Estimates suggest that 2,400 people have lost their lives in the unrest, while over 18,000 citizens have been detained. What began as an outcry over economic desperation has evolved into a widespread demand for fundamental political reform.
In this climate of defiance, Soltani emerged as a powerful symbol of resistance—a status Iranian authorities have desperately sought to neutralize. Gholamhossein Mohseni-Ejei, head of Iran’s judiciary, has been vocal about using the death penalty as a swift deterrent.
“If we want to do a job, we should do it now,” Mohseni-Ejei told Iranian state TV, emphasizing the need for rapid executions to maintain the “effect” of state power. “If it becomes late, two months, three months later, it doesn’t have the same effect. If we want to do something, we have to do that fast.”
The Shadow of Washington
Faced with an imminent execution, Soltani’s family issued a desperate, direct plea for intervention to U.S. President Donald Trump. On Tuesday, in an interview with CBS News, the President responded with a stern warning to Tehran, stating that the U.S. would take “very strong action” should “peaceful protesters” be executed.
“We don’t want to see what’s happening in Iran happen,” Trump said. Addressing the reports of impending hangings, he added, “We’ll see how that works out for them. It’s not going to work out good.” The President concluded with a threat that Iranian officials would pay a “big price” for the state-sanctioned killing of regime critics.
Justice in the Dark
The legal process leading to Soltani’s sentence has been roundly condemned by international observers. The Norway-based Hengaw Organization for Human Rights alleges that Soltani was stripped of his basic rights, including access to a lawyer or any meaningful legal defense, following his arrest.
The emotional toll on those close to the 26-year-old has been immense. Speaking to The Guardian shortly before the stay of execution was confirmed, a relative named Somayeh described the agonizing uncertainty. “I spoke to his family yesterday and all I know is that they were trying to visit him in prison. I haven’t slept in two days,” she said. “How can anyone have the heart to put a rope round the neck of such a kind child and send him to die?”
Somayeh also reiterated the family’s reliance on American diplomatic pressure. “Our demand now is that Trump truly stand behind the words he said, because the Iranian people came to the streets based on those statements,” she said. “An unarmed population trusted these words and is now under gunfire. I beg you, please do not let Erfan be executed. Please.”
A Fragile Postponement
The reprieve reportedly came via a phone call from prison authorities to Soltani’s family, placed hours after the anticipated execution time. While the news brought an immediate wave of relief to his supporters, the “postponement” remains a fragile victory.
Human rights groups remain on high alert, noting that in the current Iranian judicial climate, a stay of execution is often a temporary measure rather than a full commutation. For now, the world’s eyes remain fixed on Karaj, watching to see if international pressure can turn a brief stay into a permanent escape from the gallows.
