A young soldier who declined to follow orders to fire on protesters during one of Iran’s most intense nationwide unrest surges has been sentenced to death, a human rights group reported on Tuesday.

The Iran Human Rights Society (IHRS) identified the soldier as Javid Khales, who was arrested during the of 1404—a major wave of anti-regime demonstrations spanning late 2025 to early 2026 that called for an end to the country’s current dictatorship.

“According to informed sources, when faced with the command 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 stated.

The group noted that witnesses claim Khales, now held at Isfahan prison, did not commit any crime but refused to shoot as an act of humanity.

While the unrest has already resulted in thousands of arrests and deaths among protesters, Khales’ planned execution further raises concerns about unfair, state-sanctioned killings and rushed trials that deny defendants proper legal protections.

“Amid the continuation of protests and the intensification of deadly repression against the people, the news of Javid Khales—a young soldier who refused to shoot at protesters—being sentenced to death has heightened concerns about a new wave of ,” the human rights group said.

“This sentence comes at a time when judiciary officials have openly spoken of summary trials and the swift execution of death sentences against those arrested in the protests.”

IHRS reported that a judiciary spokesperson and the , in separate statements, emphasized that cases involving dissidents must be resolved as quickly as possible—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 instill fear, “enforce absolute obedience and intensify protest repression.”

Over the past several days, the government has shut down and restricted internet access nationwide to prevent protesters from organizing. say the blackout was also a strategic move to conceal the realities on the ground and suppress public reaction.

Precise details were unavailable regarding Khales’ case, his current status or the judicial process.