Detained Iranian protester Erfan Soltani was not executed on Wednesday as some had feared, but he was in good health and able to visit his family, his family and human rights groups said.
Somae, a relative of 26-year-old Soltani, who asked not to be identified by his full name due to safety concerns, told CNN on Sunday that he had received word from his family in Iran that Soltani was alive and had been able to see them.
“We ask for your cooperation in ensuring Erfan’s freedom,” Somae said in a video message. Norway-based human rights group Hengau also granted a brief visit with his family on Sunday, adding that Soltani was in “good physical health.”
The US State Department and his family had previously raised the prospect that Iran could execute Soltani, who has been detained for taking part in anti-government protests that erupted in late December amid public anger over Iran’s economic woes.
More than 24,000 people have been arrested since the protests began, according to the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA). CNN cannot independently verify this number.
Iranian judicial authorities confirmed on January 10 that Soltani had been arrested and formally charged with “gathering and collusion against internal security” and “propaganda” against the regime, state-run Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) reported.
However, according to IRIB news agency, judicial authorities said Soltani was not sentenced to death.
Soltani’s family later announced that Soltani’s execution had been postponed, and US President Donald Trump said he had received assurances “on legitimate authority” that there were no plans to execute him in Iran amid concerns over Soltani’s fate.
On Sunday, Iranian judiciary authorities appeared to suggest that some demonstrators involved in recent anti-regime unrest could still be executed, despite President Trump’s suggestion.
Judiciary spokesman Asghar Jahangir said Sunday that some of the actions by protesters were classified as “mohalebe,” which translates to “waging war against God.” Penalties for Mohalebe include the death penalty.
“The acts we have witnessed in recent days are criminal and will be swiftly prosecuted and punished,” Jahangir said. “Some acts are classified as mohalebeh, which carries the harshest punishment under Islamic law.”
Those who “collaborate with the enemy” during a deteriorating security situation are committing criminal acts, he said. “The law has clear provisions for such cases and clearly defines the punishment for those who cooperate with the mortal enemy,” Jahangir added.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Saturday blamed President Trump for the deaths of Iranians in the violence, saying the president had “openly encouraged” protesters by promising “military assistance” from the United States.
President Trump said on Friday that he had “convinced himself” that Iran would refrain from military action, in part because the Iranian government announced it was halting plans to execute protesters.
“I have great respect for the fact that yesterday they were scheduled to hang over 800 people, but they called it off,” he said.
Reacting to President Trump’s comments, Tehran prosecutor Ali Salehi said in a video released by IRIB on Saturday that the US president was speaking “nonsense” and that President Trump’s assessment on the issue was “wrong”.
“Our response has been decisive, deterrent and swift, and many of our cases are now leading to prosecutions and being referred to court,” Salehi said.
CNN’s Isobel Yeung, Kevin Liptak, Adam Cancryn, Catherine Nicholls and Hira Humayun contributed reporting.
