An Iranian soldier has been sentenced to death after refusing orders to fire on protesters amid ongoing nationwide anti-regime demonstrations, according to human rights organizations.
The soldier, identified as Javid Khales, was arrested during the protests that erupted in late 2025 and continued into early 2026, fueled by widespread public anger over economic hardships and calls for regime change. Informed sources reported that Khales, a member of Iran’s security forces, defied a direct command to shoot at demonstrators, leading to his immediate detention and subsequent trial. He was transferred to Isfahan Prison following his arrest.
The Center for Human Rights in Iran (CHRI), also referred to in reports as the Iran Human Rights Society (IHRS), described the sentencing as a “judicial massacre.” The group stated: “When faced with the command to shoot at protesting people, he refused to execute the order, leading to his immediate arrest and the opening of a case against him.” This development occurs against a backdrop of accelerated trials and executions for those involved in the protests, with Iranian judiciary officials publicly endorsing summary proceedings and swift capital punishments.
Human rights advocates have expressed alarm over the case, viewing Khales’s actions as a humane refusal rather than a crime, and warning of an escalating wave of repression by the regime. The protests, which have drawn international condemnation, continue to highlight tensions within Iran’s security apparatus and the broader society’s push for reform.
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