An Iranian protester facing the death penalty was reportedly given just 10 minutes to say goodbye to his family before a planned execution, as authorities intensify a sweeping crackdown on nationwide anti-government demonstrations that have already claimed hundreds of lives.
Erfan Soltani, 26, was arrested on 8 January during protests in Fardis, near the city of Karaj. Human rights groups say his family was informed days later that he had been sentenced to death, with the execution scheduled for 14 January. The speed of the process and the lack of basic legal safeguards have prompted urgent warnings of further executions to come.
