Iran Sentences Soldier to Death for Refusing to Shoot Protesters

In a chilling reminder of how tyrannical regimes cling to power, a young Iranian soldier has reportedly been sentenced to death not for committing violence, but for refusing to carry it out.

According to the Iran Human Rights Society (IHRS), the soldier, identified as Javid Khales, was arrested after he declined an order to open fire on peaceful protesters during Iran’s massive nationwide unrest spanning late 2025 into early 2026. His refusal, described by witnesses as an act of basic humanity, has now placed him on death row inside Isfahan prison.

The protests, referred to by activists as the demonstrations of 1404, erupted across dozens of cities as Iranians demanded an end to the country’s authoritarian rule. What followed was a predictable response from the regime mass arrests, internet blackouts, rushed trials, and escalating executions meant to terrify the population into silence.

IHRS says Khales’ case reflects exactly how the regime weaponizes its courts to enforce obedience. Sources indicate he was detained immediately after refusing the order to shoot civilians and quickly charged without meaningful legal protections.

Human rights monitors warn that this sentence could signal a new wave of state-sanctioned killings aimed at crushing dissent.

Here’s what we know so far:

• Khales refused a direct command to fire on protesters, according to multiple witnesses cited by IHRS.

• He is currently held in Isfahan prison, with little transparency surrounding his trial or legal access.

• Judicial officials have openly discussed accelerating executions, raising concerns that due process is being discarded entirely.

• The government imposed nationwide internet restrictions in recent days to disrupt organizing and limit public awareness of crackdowns.

The broader picture is even more disturbing. Amnesty International previously reported that Iran carried out over 850 executions in 2023 alone, one of the highest totals in the world. Meanwhile, the U.S. State Department estimates that tens of thousands of political prisoners remain in Iranian custody at any given time. During earlier protest waves, independent watchdogs documented thousands of arrests and hundreds of confirmed deaths, showing a pattern that continues today.

This is what unchecked authoritarianism looks like a government willing to execute its own soldiers for showing moral restraint.

The regime’s message is unmistakable absolute obedience or death. By making an example of Khales, authorities aim to intimidate both protesters and security forces who might hesitate to carry out brutal orders.

Over the past week alone, activists report that digital shutdowns have intensified across major provinces, preventing families from even learning whether detained loved ones are alive. These blackouts also shield the government from international scrutiny as repression accelerates behind closed doors.

Contrast this with the freedoms Americans too often take for granted freedom of speech, due process, the right to worship, and protection from government abuse. While radical activists in the West scream about imaginary oppression, real tyranny continues to crush innocent people abroad with little accountability.

Khales’ fate should serve as a sobering reminder of why strong borders, national sovereignty, and firm opposition to hostile regimes matter. The same governments that brutalize their own citizens export chaos, terror networks, and instability across the globe.

The free world cannot look away.

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