A young soldier who refused to obey orders to shoot protesters during one of Iran’s most intense waves of nationwide unrest has been sentenced to death, a human rights group said Tuesday.
The Iran Human Rights Society (IHRS) identified the soldier as Javid Khales, who was arrested during the nationwide protests of 1404, a major wave of anti-regime demonstrations from late 2025 to early 2026 calling for an end to the country’s current dictatorship.
“According to informed sources, when confronted with the order to shoot at protesting people, he refused to carry out the order, leading to his immediate arrest and the opening of a case against him,” IHRS said.
Witnesses claimed that Khales, now in Isfahan prison, committed no crime but refused to shoot as an act of humanity, the group said.
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Iranian security forces escalated from pellet guns to live ammunition during protests. (Getty)
While the unrest has already led to thousands of arrests and deaths among protesters, Khales’ planned execution raises further concerns about unfair, state-sanctioned killings and rushed trials that deny suspects proper legal protections.
“Amid the continuation of protests and the intensification of deadly repression against the people, the news that Javid Khales – a young soldier who refused to shoot demonstrators – has been sentenced to death has heightened concerns of a new wave of judicial massacres,” the rights group said.
“This verdict comes at a time when judicial officials have openly discussed summary trials and the swift execution of death sentences against those arrested during the protests.”
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The death toll from Iranian protests is rising as hundreds of people are said to have been killed by government forces. (MAHSA/Middle East Images/AFP via Getty Images)
A spokesperson for Tehran’s judiciary and prosecutor stressed in separate statements that cases involving dissidents should be resolved as quickly as possible, IHRS reported, raising concerns that executions could take place outside proper legal procedures. Human rights sources say many detainees have remained in custody without access to a lawyer or a fair trial.
The organization added that Khales’ death sentence is seen as part of a broader effort to sow fear, “enforce absolute obedience and intensify protest repression.”
In this frame shot from a video obtained by the AP outside Iran, a masked protester holds a photo of Iranian Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi during a protest in Tehran, Iran, on January 9, 2026. (UGC via AP)
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In recent days, the government has shut down and restricted the internet across the country to prevent protesters from organizing. Human rights activists say the blackout was also a strategic move to hide the reality on the ground and stifle public reaction.
Precise details about Khales’ case, his current status or the legal proceedings were not available.
