Iran executed a 20-year-old protester on Saturday morning for charges of waging war against God, following his participation in widespread demonstrations earlier this year. Arvin Kheirkhah was put to death at Shahroud prison, according to reports from the UK-based broadcaster Iran International, raising concerns about further executions of protesters across the country.

Kheirkhah was arrested during a government crackdown on protests that erupted nationwide in January. He was sentenced to death by a Revolutionary Court, an institution that has drawn international criticism for its use of broad and vague charges such as “enmity against God” and “corruption on earth” to prosecute dissenters.

In a final message conveyed to his family, Kheirkhah reportedly urged them not to forget his sacrifice, emphasizing a desire for the continuation of the movement to liberate Iran. The communications office of Reza Pahlavi, the son of the late Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, shared these remarks and identified six other Iranian citizens who face potential execution under Tehran’s judicial system.

The United Nations has expressed deep concern over Iran’s treatment of protesters. On July 23, UN investigators appealed to Iranian authorities to halt the imminent executions of 10 men involved in protests in the central city of Isfahan, warning against escalating human rights violations.

Kheirkhah’s execution underscores ongoing tensions in Iran as authorities maintain a harsh stance toward dissent amid efforts to suppress civil unrest. International observers continue to call for restraint and adherence to legal standards in the handling of those detained for political activism.