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Iran Executes Teenage Wrestler, Two Others Amid Intensifying Crackdown
Iranian authorities hanged three young men, including a 19-year-old star wrestler, early Thursday morning in the city of Qom, marking the first executions from among tens of thousands arrested during nationwide protests earlier this year.
Saleh Mohammadi, a bronze medalist at an international youth freestyle wrestling tournament in Russia this year, was executed alongside Mehdi Qasemi and Saeed Davoudi. All three were convicted of “moharabeh,” or “waging war against God,” for allegedly killing two police officers during January protests.
Human rights organizations have raised serious concerns about the fairness of the trials. Amnesty International reported that confessions were extracted through torture, with Mohammadi specifically having been beaten and suffering a broken hand during detention. According to Amnesty, he later retracted his confession in court, stating it was obtained through coercion.
“These executions were intended to instill fear in society and deter new protests amid the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran,” said Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam, director of Iran Human Rights, an Oslo-based monitoring group. He warned that many more “executions of protesters and political prisoners may be imminent.”
The executions come amid unprecedented political tension in Iran. The country faces external military pressure from Israel and the United States while dealing with significant internal dissent. Despite the ongoing international conflict, Iranian authorities have maintained their crackdown on domestic opposition.
According to Iran Human Rights, at least 27 people arrested during recent protests have received death sentences, with another 100 facing charges that carry capital punishment. The organization also reports that Iranian state media have aired hundreds of forced confessions to crimes punishable by death.
The nationwide protests that began in late December and peaked in early January triggered what rights groups describe as the deadliest government crackdown since the 1979 Islamic Revolution. The Human Rights Activists News Agency, a U.S.-based organization with contacts inside Iran, confirmed more than 7,000 deaths and is investigating thousands more cases. The group estimates over 50,000 people were arrested during a six-week period, though Iranian officials acknowledge only about 3,000 casualties.
Little is known about the three executed men due to Iran’s internet restrictions. Davoudi was reportedly born on March 20, 2004, making him just a day shy of his 22nd birthday when executed. Mohammadi was a promising athlete who had gained recognition in wrestling, one of Iran’s most popular sports.
Mohammadi’s Instagram account featured training videos and competition highlights alongside motivational messages. His final post in late December showed him working out with the caption: “We endured beyond our imagination. Back again #bodybuilding #training #wrestling.”
Shiva Amelirad, an Iranian teacher now living in Toronto who spoke with Mohammadi in 2022, described him as “full of energy.” She revealed that he had participated in earlier anti-government protests following the death of Mahsa Amini in police custody after being detained for improper hijab.
“He told me that workouts and eating ice cream were his only ways to forget all this catastrophe that we are facing,” Amelirad recalled. “He always tried to show that he was happy.”
According to human rights groups, Mohammadi, Qasemi, and Davoudi were arrested in Qom on January 15. The circumstances of their arrests remain unclear, including whether they knew each other before their detention. They were charged with killing a police officer on January 8 and convicted in early February.
Mizan, the Iranian judiciary’s official news agency, announced the executions on Thursday, showing footage of the three in prison uniforms during court proceedings. The agency claimed they had confessed to killing two police officers with “knives and swords” and released videos of them allegedly reenacting the killings for judicial officials.
Amiry-Moghaddam observed that the Islamic Republic “is struggling for its survival and is well aware that the main threat to its existence comes not from external actors, but from the Iranian people demanding fundamental change.”
As international attention remains focused on the regional conflict involving Iran, Israel, and the United States, human rights advocates worry that Iranian authorities may accelerate executions to suppress internal dissent while global scrutiny is divided.
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15 Comments
The execution of protesters, including a young athlete, is a horrifying abuse of power by the Iranian regime. These acts must be condemned in the strongest possible terms by the international community.
Absolutely. The lack of due process and the use of torture to extract confessions is a clear violation of human rights. Strong international pressure is needed to stop these unjust executions.
The Iranian regime’s use of the death penalty to crush protests is a horrifying abuse of power. These executions must be strongly condemned by the international community to prevent further atrocities.
It’s disturbing to see the Iranian government resorting to such brutal tactics to quell dissent. The execution of these young protesters is a clear violation of human rights and must be addressed globally.
I agree, the complete disregard for due process and fair trials is deeply concerning. The international community should take concrete steps to hold the Iranian regime accountable.
The Iranian government’s use of the death penalty to silence dissent is a grave injustice. These executions of young protesters are a stark reminder of the regime’s disregard for human rights.
These executions of protesters, including a young athlete, are a chilling example of the Iranian regime’s ruthless crackdown on its own citizens. The international community must take immediate action to hold the government accountable.
I agree, the lack of due process and the use of torture to obtain confessions is completely unacceptable. The world must not stand idly by as the Iranian regime commits these atrocities.
These executions are a chilling reminder of the Iranian government’s willingness to use lethal force to suppress political dissent. The international community must act swiftly to hold the regime accountable.
Absolutely. The execution of protesters, including a young athlete, is a flagrant violation of human rights that cannot be tolerated. Strong condemnation and action are needed.
These executions are a chilling demonstration of the Iranian government’s ruthless crackdown on its own citizens. The world must not remain silent in the face of such egregious human rights abuses.
This is a deeply troubling situation. Executing young protesters, even based on flimsy charges, is a gross violation of human rights. I hope the international community applies pressure to stop these unjust executions.
You’re right, the lack of due process is very concerning. These executions seem designed to intimidate the protest movement rather than uphold justice.
Executing a 19-year-old athlete for participating in protests is an appalling abuse of power by the Iranian regime. The international outcry over these executions must continue to grow.
Agreed, the regime’s crackdown on dissent through such harsh measures is extremely troubling. The world should not remain silent in the face of these atrocities.