Iran Executes Wrestler Amid Protests
On Thursday in Qom, Iran, the Islamic regime executed a 19-year-old champion wrestler named Saleh Mohammadi, along with two others, through public hangings.
Mohammadi, along with Mehdi Ghasemi and Saeed Davoudi, faced charges related to the killing of two Iranian law enforcement officers during widespread protests in late December and January.
The Iranian judiciary-affiliated Mizan News Agency reported the convictions. They cited the human rights organization, Hengaw, stating the charges included “Moharebeh” or “waging war against God,” tied to actions during illegal gatherings that led to law enforcement deaths, and accusations of inciting violence against the state.
Interestingly, Hengaw claimed that the executions were conducted secretly, which contradicts the claims from Mizan News, insisting they were public events attended by crowds in Qom. Mohammadi reportedly denied the charges, asserting that his confession was obtained under torture. Furthermore, there was a noted absence of physical evidence against him, with courts disregarding testimonies from his family and CCTV footage that didn’t implicate him in the crimes.
Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam of Iran Human Rights called the executions extrajudicial killings, emphasizing that they were intended to instill fear and suppress dissent amidst the regime’s fight for survival against citizens seeking change.
Nima Far, a human rights activist, pointed out that this execution represents a pattern of targeting athletes to quell dissent, recalling past cases like Navid Afkari. He advocated for Iran to be barred from international sports competitions until it ceases executing protesters and athletes, and releases those wrongfully jailed.
A United Nations press release from February confirmed at least 3,117 protest-related deaths, though rights organizations estimate the real number may reach into the tens of thousands.
The U.S. State Department expressed deep concern over Mohammadi’s imminent execution, criticizing the Iranian regime for its violence against youth and demanding a halt to such actions against those merely seeking to exercise their rights.
