Iran has executed 19-year-old champion wrestler Saleh Mohammadi, who was arrested during protests against the government and later accused of involvement in the killings of police officers.
Mohammadi was detained in January amid nationwide unrest and was charged in connection with violence in the city of Qom. Authorities carried out his execution alongside Saeed Davodi and Mehdi Ghasemi after their sentences were upheld, marking one of the first known executions tied to the recent wave of protests.
Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam, director of Iran Human Rights, said the trial was “grossly unfair” and alleged Mohammadi was tortured and coerced into confessing. He warned that protesters remain at “risk of mass executions” as pressure continues to build inside the country.
Nima Far, a combat athlete and activist, described the case as “a blatant political murder,” saying authorities are targeting athletes “to crush dissent and terrorize society.”
Before his arrest, Mohammadi had built a reputation in wrestling, winning tournaments in Iran and Russia and qualifying for national-level competition. His execution has drawn attention as concerns grow over how protest-related cases are handled and the use of capital punishment in response to unrest.
