Iranian Soldier Sentenced to Death for Refusing to Shoot

When Javid Khales was ordered to shoot unarmed protesters in Iran, he made a choice that would cost him everything. The young soldier refused, and that single act of conscience has now landed him on death row.

Khales was arrested during the 1404 protests, a massive wave of demonstrations that swept Iran from late 2025 to early 2026. Iranians took to the streets calling for an end to authoritarian rule, and security forces responded with increasing violence.

According to the Iran Human Rights Society, Khales was immediately detained when he refused to follow orders to fire on civilians. Witnesses say he committed no crime beyond choosing humanity in an impossible moment.

He now sits in Isfahan prison awaiting execution. The judiciary has fast-tracked his case alongside thousands of other protesters arrested during the unrest, denying defendants access to lawyers or fair trials.

Why This Inspires

In a system designed to enforce absolute obedience through fear, one person chose differently. Khales knew the consequences of refusing an order in a regime that tolerates no dissent, yet he couldn't bring himself to harm innocent people.

His story has galvanized international human rights activists and drawn attention to the broader crackdown. Thousands have been arrested and killed during the protests, and the Iranian government has shut down internet access to prevent the world from seeing what's happening.

Senator Lindsey Graham joined other voices speaking out against the pending execution, calling for the regime to fall. Human rights organizations are documenting cases like Khales' to hold officials accountable and shine light on rushed trials and extrajudicial killings.

The Iranian judiciary has openly discussed summary trials and swift executions for protest-related arrests. Officials frame speed as justice, but activists say it's a strategy to silence dissent before the world can respond.

Yet stories like Khales' continue to emerge despite internet blackouts and government censorship. Each account of courage under impossible circumstances reminds us that individual choices matter, even when systems seem unmovable.

His refusal to shoot represents something authorities cannot execute: the human impulse to protect rather than harm, even at great personal cost.