A tragic countdown grips Iran as 26-year-old protester Irfan Soltani awaits hanging on Wednesday, emblematic of the regime’s escalating war on dissent. Charged with ‘moharebeh’ for protesting Supreme Leader Khamenei, his case highlights the death penalty’s role in quelling unrest.
Snatched on January 8, Soltani’s location was unknown to kin until authorities delivered the devastating news: death sentence already pronounced, sans hearing or charges explained. Just 10 minutes to say goodbye, plus gag orders backed by arrest threats, have left the family terrified and isolated.
International backlash is fierce, with rights groups warning of ‘field executions’ to cow protesters. Protests spanning 20 days across 280 areas have claimed 2,000 lives and jailed 20,000, under a smothering internet shutdown exceeding five days. Starlink users faced military countermeasures—jamming, seizures, and punitive raids.
This first protest-linked hanging could set a deadly precedent, fueling a cycle of violence. As the world condemns Iran’s tactics, questions swirl: Can pressure from abroad save Soltani, or will this embolden further repression in a nation on the brink?