Desperate pleas have been made by the family of Erfan Soltani, urging Donald Trump to step in and save the Iranian shopkeeper, who is facing execution as the first anti-government protester to be killed by the regime amidst widespread demonstrations.
Erfan was given a mere 10 minutes to say goodbye to his loved ones after receiving a death sentence from Iran’s authorities in the midst of their severe crackdown on protests triggered by internal economic issues. Scheduled for hanging today, he joins the ranks of thousands who have lost their lives during the ongoing unrest, deemed a serious challenge to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s four-decade rule.
Calling upon Trump for urgent assistance to prevent Erfan’s execution, his relatives stressed the need for immediate intervention. Somayeh, one of Soltani’s cousins, emphasized the critical timing, imploring Trump not to let Erfan face death. She highlighted Trump’s prior commitment to take resolute action in case of anti-government executions, citing the public’s trust in his words that led them to demonstrate.
Expressing profound shock upon learning of her cousin’s impending fate, Somayeh described feeling as though she was trapped in a surreal nightmare. She recounted Erfan’s passion for ensuring basic freedoms for people, stating his unwavering dedication to advocating for Iran’s liberty, now confronted with the gallows.
In response, Trump encouraged ongoing protests against the Iranian regime through his Truth Social platform, cautioning authorities of severe consequences following reports from human rights organizations estimating nearly 1,850 casualties thus far. Pledging imminent support, he directly urged Iranian protesters to seize control of government institutions for change.
Despite official reports acknowledging 600 deaths, credible sources indicate a much higher fatality toll nearing 2,000. Iran’s judiciary has expedited legal actions against protesters, labeling them as “rioters” and “terrorists,” with Erfan’s execution reportedly set for January 14. While Iran typically prolongs death penalty cases, it maintains one of the world’s highest execution rates, with over 2,000 cases recorded in 2025 alone.
Somayeh refuted claims of Erfan resorting to violence during protests, attributing any destruction to the regime’s actions and condemning their fabrication of accusations to justify executing young individuals.
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