Iran executes 19-year-old wrestling champion Saleh Mohammadi amid controversial crackdown on protesters

Iran executed 19-year-old national wrestling champion Saleh Mohammadi on Thursday, March 19, alongside two other men, Mehdi Ghasemi and Saeed Davvodi, marking the first known death sentences carried out in connection with the January demonstrations.

The judiciary-linked Mizan News Agency reported that all three were accused of killing two police officers during the unrest.

Mohammadi, who had represented Iran in international wrestling competitions—including winning a bronze medal at the 2024 Saitiev Cup in Russia—denied the charges in court.

Close associates said his confession was obtained under torture. Members of Iran’s wrestling community also defended him, noting that he had no prior history of violence.

Human rights groups and international observers have drawn comparisons between Mohammadi’s execution and the case of Navid Afkari, another Iranian wrestler executed in 2020 after being convicted of murdering a security guard during the 2018 protests.

Afkari’s case became emblematic of Iran’s use of capital punishment against political dissenters.

The January protests, which began as a response to worsening economic conditions, quickly escalated into a broader challenge to Iran’s theocratic government.

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Security forces responded with overwhelming force. According to Iran International’s Editorial Board, more than 36,500 Iranians were killed during the crackdown, making it the deadliest two-day protest massacre in the country’s history.

Experts warn that Mohammadi’s execution may further inflame domestic unrest and draw international condemnation, highlighting ongoing concerns about human rights violations and the use of the death penalty in Iran.

Rights groups have called for immediate transparency in the judicial process, emphasizing that the execution of minors or young adults accused of political crimes violates international human rights law.

Mohammadi was 19 years old at the time of his execution, raising serious concerns about Iran’s compliance with treaties prohibiting the execution of individuals under 18 at the time of alleged offenses.

The incident has renewed calls from the international community to hold Iranian authorities accountable and to protect athletes, activists, and protesters from politically motivated charges.