A 26-year-old Iranian man who was reportedly sentenced to death in connection with anti-government protests last month has been released on bail, reports say. Erfan Soltani was arrested on 8 January in the city of Fardis, just west of Tehran, as protests swept across the country, prompting a deadly crackdown by Iranian authorities. Officials then informed his family that he had been scheduled to be executed within days, without giving any additional details, according to Norway-based Kurdish human rights group Hengaw.

However, Iran's judiciary denied that he was sentenced to death, asserting that he faced security-related charges, which typically carry prison terms only. Soltani's lawyer, Amir Mousakhani, confirmed to the AFP news agency that he was released on bail on Saturday, stating, 'he received all of his belongings including his cellphone.' The bail amount of 'two billion tomans' (approximately $12,600) was reportedly paid for his release.

The media attention surrounding Soltani’s arrest grew when it was alleged that he faced execution after a notably swift judicial process. His case drew international responses, with US officials threatening repercussions against Iran over potential executions. Following the initial claims, Hengaw later reported that Soltani's execution was postponed, and Iranian officials branded the media reports as 'news fabrication.' In the backdrop of escalating unrest, the situation in Iran has seen thousands of casualties, raising concerns regarding human rights violations amid ongoing protests.