A young Iranian shopkeeper is set to become the first protester hanged by the Islamic Republic as it wrestles to stay in control amid widespread civil unrest.
Erfan Soltani, 26, will have 10 minutes to say his goodbyes to his loved ones on Wednesday before he is killed by the regime for taking part in a demonstration last week, human rights groups have said.
The clothes shop owner was sentenced to death shortly after being detained at his home in the Iranian city of Fardis.
US-based Human Rights Activists New Agency (HRANA) say the 26-year-old is one of almost 11,000 people to have been arrested for taking part in protests against Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s regime.
Hengaw Organisation for Human Rights member Arina Moradi said she has spoken to Mr Soltani’s relatives, who are in a state of “despair” and “shock”.
She told the Daily Mail: “Their son was never a political activist, just part of the younger generation who was protesting against the current situation in Iran.”
Ms Moradi said the Islamic Republic left the 26-year-old’s family in the dark “for days”, before finally contacting them to inform them that their son had been detained and is set to be put to death.
She warned that Mr Soltani was likely tortured while in Iranian prison – and the regime could make his execution a public spectacle.
The clothes shop owner was sentenced to death shortly after being detained at his home
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Ms Moradi added she believes Mr Soltani may be the first of many extrajudicial executions carried out in response to the protests in the coming days and weeks.
The Hengaw human rights group said a source close to the shop owner’s family told them his family were made aware of his impeding death four days after he was detained.
It said: “The source added that Erfan Soltani’s sister, who is a licensed lawyer, has attempted to pursue the case through legal channels, but authorities have so far prevented her from accessing the case file.
“Since his arrest, Erfan Soltani has been deprived of his most basic rights, including access to legal counsel, the right to defence and other fundamental due-process guarantees.”
One Iranian source has warned up to 20,000 may have been killed in the unrest so far
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The human rights group blasted Mr Soltani’s treatment as a “clear violation of international human rights law”.
A source within Iran told CBS News that groups within the country working to compile an accurate death toll based on medical information believe at least 12,000 people have been killed in the unrest so far.
However, they warned the figure could be as high as 20,000.
The source also said the regime’s security forces had been going into hospitals around Iran, demanding medical workers to give them personal information of those injured in the demonstrations.
Mr Trump vowed to take ‘very strong action’ against Iran if its government started to hang protestors
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GETTYIn an interview with CBS on Tuesday, Mr Trump vowed to take “very strong action” against Iran if its Government started to hang protestors.
However, the President did not disclose what form that action could take.
“I haven’t heard about the hanging. If they hang them, you’re going to see some things,” he said.
“We will take very strong action if they do such a thing.”
