Erfan Soltani is a 26-year-old Iranian protester and shop worker born in 1999 in Fardis, Karaj, Iran. He gained international attention in January 2026 after being arrested during anti-government protests in Iran and sentenced to death by Iranian authorities on charges of “waging war against God” (moharebeh). Soltani’s case has drawn widespread condemnation from human rights organizations and sparked global campaigns for his release.
Erfan Soltani Biography / Wiki
| Field | Details |
| Full Name | Erfan Soltani (عرفان سلطانی) |
| Date of Birth | 1999 |
| Age | 26 years (as of January 2026) |
| Birthplace | Fardis, Karaj, Iran |
| Current Residence | Fardis, Karaj (suburb west of Tehran) |
| Nationality | Iranian |
| Profession | Shop Worker/Shopkeeper, Garment Industry Worker |
| Occupation | Clothing Store Owner |
| Interests | Sports, Weight Training, Fashion |
| Marital Status | Married with children |
| Arrest Date | January 8, 2026 |
| Charges | “Waging war against God” (moharebeh) |
| Sentence | Death by hanging |
| Current Status | Execution postponed (as of January 18, 2026) |
Erfan Soltani Education
Specific details about Erfan Soltani’s educational background have not been publicly disclosed. As a shop owner and garment industry worker, he received sufficient education to manage his clothing store business. Further information about his schooling or higher education is not available in public sources.
Early Life
Erfan Soltani was born in 1999 in Fardis, a suburb in Karaj, located west of Tehran, Iran. He grew up in a working-class family in Fardis and spent most of his life in the same area. Details about his parents and childhood have not been extensively documented in available sources.
Soltani developed interests in sports, weight training, and fashion during his formative years. He pursued work in the garment industry and eventually established his own clothing store in Fardis. He lived what was described as an ordinary life before his involvement in the 2025-2026 anti-government protests.
Erfan Soltani Profession
Erfan Soltani is a shop worker and shopkeeper who owns and operates a clothing store in Fardis, Karaj. He works in the garment industry, managing his retail business. His profession involves selling clothing and managing day-to-day operations of his shop.
Erfan Soltani Career Journey
Erfan Soltani worked in the garment industry and established a clothing store in Fardis, Karaj. He managed his shop as a small business owner, serving customers in his local community. His professional life was characterized as ordinary before his arrest in January 2026.
On January 8, 2026, Soltani was arrested at his private residence in Fardis in connection with his participation in anti-government protests in Karaj. The arrest occurred during the 2025-2026 nationwide demonstrations against the Iranian regime led by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. According to human rights organizations, Soltani was denied access to a lawyer and was not provided with a proper trial.
Within just two days of his arrest, an Iranian court issued a death sentence against Soltani on charges of “waging war against God” (moharebeh), a capital offense under Iranian law. His family was informed of the death sentence days after his arrest and were told he was scheduled for execution on January 14, 2026. The family was only permitted a 10-minute visit with Soltani before the scheduled execution.
Following international outcry and a statement from U.S. President Donald Trump warning of “very strong action” if Iran executed protesters, Iranian authorities postponed Soltani’s execution. On January 18, 2026, his family was allowed to visit him, and sources confirmed he was in good physical health, though the death sentence remained in place and was only postponed, not withdrawn.
Soltani’s case became a focal point for international human rights campaigns, with organizations including Iran Human Rights (IHR), the National Union for Democracy in Iran (NUFD), and Students for Liberty calling for his release. His case has been cited as an example of the Iranian regime’s rapid judicial processes against protesters.
Erfan Soltani Controversies
Erfan Soltani’s entire public profile is centered on the controversy surrounding his arrest and death sentence in January 2026. He was arrested on January 8, 2026, at his home in Fardis, Karaj, during nationwide anti-government protests against Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei’s regime. The protests were triggered by economic hardships, governance issues, and political discontent in Iran.
Soltani was charged with “waging war against God” (moharebeh), a capital offense under Iranian law. Human rights organizations reported that he was denied legal representation and was not given a proper trial before being sentenced to death. His family was not permitted to attend his trial. The entire judicial process from arrest to death sentence took approximately two days, which human rights groups described as extremely rapid.
His scheduled execution date was set for January 14, 2026, making him potentially the first protester to be executed during the 2025-2026 wave of demonstrations. International pressure, including a warning from U.S. President Donald Trump about “very strong action” if protesters were executed, led Iranian authorities to postpone the execution. However, the death sentence was not withdrawn, only delayed.
On January 18, 2026, Soltani’s family was allowed a brief visit, during which they confirmed he was in good physical health. Human rights organizations continue to advocate for his release, describing his only crime as “shouting for freedom for Iran”. The case has intensified international scrutiny of Iran’s treatment of protesters and its judicial system.
Erfan Soltani Personal Life
Erfan Soltani is married and has children. He lived with his family in Fardis, Karaj, before his arrest on January 8, 2026. He maintained a working-class lifestyle as a clothing store owner.
His interests include sports, weight training, and fashion, which aligned with his professional work in the garment industry. Soltani was described as living an ordinary life before his involvement in the anti-government protests. His family has faced restrictions in communicating with him since his arrest, with limited visitation rights.
Why Erfan Soltani Is Trending
Erfan Soltani is trending globally in January 2026 due to his arrest during anti-government protests in Iran and subsequent death sentence. He became a symbol of the Iranian regime’s crackdown on protesters when authorities sentenced him to death within just two days of his arrest on January 8, 2026, without providing him legal representation or a proper trial.
Soltani was scheduled to become the first protester executed during the 2025-2026 wave of anti-Khamenei demonstrations, with his hanging set for January 14, 2026. International outcry from human rights organizations, including Iran Human Rights (IHR), the National Union for Democracy in Iran (NUFD), Students for Liberty, and Amnesty International, sparked global campaigns using the hashtag #SaveErfanSoltani.
The case gained further attention when U.S. President Donald Trump issued a warning to Iran that America would take “very strong action” if protesters were executed. Following this pressure, Iranian authorities postponed Soltani’s execution on January 18, 2026, though the death sentence was not withdrawn. His family was permitted a brief visit on January 18, confirming he was in good physical health but remained in detention.
The case has intensified international scrutiny of Iran’s judicial system and treatment of protesters, with Iran Human Rights reporting 648 deaths during the protests and an estimated 10,000 arrests. Soltani’s story continues to trend as activists and international organizations pressure the Iranian government to halt executions and release detained protesters.
