Iranian authorities postponed the execution of Erfan Soltani, a 26-year-old protester, amid a global mobilization generated by the case, according to the human rights NGO Hengaw. CNN Brazil.
The execution of Soltani, who was arrested less than a week ago amid demonstrations in the country, was scheduled for this Wednesday (14).
The organization said it was able to contact Soltani’s family, despite the digital blackout in the country.
“The execution order previously communicated to his family and scheduled for Wednesday was not carried out and was postponed”, reported Arina Moradi, member of Hengaw, to CNN Brazil.
The NGO highlighted that “due to the continuous interruption of the internet and severe communication restrictions, it is not possible, at the moment, to provide real-time coverage of the developments in this case.”
The case attracted global attention with repercussions in international press outlets.
Trump says there are no execution plans in Iran
The information is revealed on the same day that United States President Donald Trump stated that “there are no plans for executions” in Iran and that the “killing is stopping”.
“There is no plan for executions, nor will there be any executions. I received this information from a reliable source. Let’s get informed. I’m sure if that happens, I will be very upset,” said the president in the Oval Office of the White House.
Who is Erfan Soltani, whose execution was postponed?
According to Hengaw, Erfan Soltani is a resident of the Fardis neighborhood, in the city of Karaj.
The group claims that he was arrested at his residence on Thursday (8), in connection with the protests.
The Iranwire portal reported that Soltani worked in the clothing industry and had recently joined a private company.
“Those who know him describe him as passionate about fashion and personal style. His Instagram profile — one of the few that authorities have not deleted — shows a young man who liked bodybuilding, sports and living a simple life,” says the report.
A source from the portal stated that the man had received “threatening messages from security sources”, but remained “committed to the protests”.
