Beirut: March 22, 2026
The Iranian government has executed three young men, including a teenage wrestling star, drawing sharp condemnation from international human rights organizations. Saleh Mohammadi, Mehdi Ghasemi, and Saied Davoudi were hanged publicly on Thursday in the city of Qom, south of Tehran.
The three were among thousands arrested during nationwide protests that broke out in January. According to state media, they were convicted of Moharebeh, or “waging war against God,” for the alleged killing of two police officers during the demonstrations.
Human rights groups, including Amnesty International and the Oslo-based Iran Human Rights (IHR), have labeled the trials as a gross miscarriage of justice. They claim the convictions were based on confessions extracted through severe physical torture. Amnesty International highlighted that Saleh Mohammadi had consistently denied the charges and reportedly suffered a broken arm while in custody.
The execution of Saleh Mohammadi has caused particular distress in the sporting community. A rising talent in Iran’s freestyle wrestling circuit, Mohammadi had won a bronze medal at an international youth tournament in Russia in 2024. His former teacher, Shiva Amelirad, described him as a vibrant youth who turned to wrestling as an escape from the country’s political turmoil.
Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam, director of Iran Human Rights, suggested that these public executions are an attempt by the state to instill fear and prevent future uprisings amidst rising regional tensions with the United States and Israel.
While these three are the first to be executed from the January protest wave, activists warn that over 100 others are currently on death row facing similar charges.
