Iran executed three protesters Thursday, including 19-year-old national wrestling champion Saleh Mohammadi, one of the detained athletes following January’s unrest. Mehdi Ghasemi and Saeed Davoudi were also hanged after being accused of killing two police officers, according to the judiciary-linked Mizan news agency.
Mohammadi, who competed internationally and won a bronze medal at the 2024 Saitiev Cup in Russia, denied the charges in court. Sources close to him say his confession was coerced through torture and members of Iran’s wrestling community defended him as having no history of violence, reports Iran INTL.
“Mohammadi had represented Iran in international wrestling events, including the 2024 Saitiev Cup in Russia, where he won a bronze medal,” a source familiar with the case said.
The execution draws parallels to Navid Afkari, another Iranian wrestler executed in 2020 after being convicted of murdering a security guard during protests. Afkari’s death became a symbol of the regime’s use of capital punishment against athletes.
Authorities accused those executed of acting on behalf of foreign powers, a claim frequently levied against protesters. Observers have noted repeated violations of due process in these cases, including forced confessions, denial of access to chosen lawyers, and exclusion of defense witnesses. Mohammadi’s supporters said CCTV footage did not identify him, and alibi witnesses were barred from testifying.
A wider crackdown on Iran’s sporting community continues. Dozens of athletes, coaches, and referees remain in custody. Names reported in detention include footballer Mohammad Hossein Hosseini, water polo goalkeeper Ali Pishevarzadeh, marathon runner Niloufar Pas, kickboxing champion Benjamin Naghdi, teenage footballer Abolfazl Dokht, and boxer Mohammad Javad Vafaei Sani.
Others in custody include basketball coach Payam Vahidi, billiards coach Hamzeh Kazemi, aerobics coach Narges Heidari, and former footballer Amir Reza Nasr Azadani, whose arrest had drawn international concern. Several detainees are minors or young athletes, including Amirhossein Ghaderzadeh, 19, and Abolfazl Dokht. Boxer Mohammad Mahshari, a bronze medalist at the 2024 Asian youth and under-23 championships, is also reported to be detained.
“The list extends to referees and lesser-known competitors, showing how deeply the crackdown has reached into Iran’s sporting community,” rights monitors said.
At least 65 athletes, coaches, and referees have been identified among those killed during January protests, although the true toll is unclear. Iran International reviewed documents suggesting more than 36,500 Iranians were killed by security forces during the January 8-9 crackdown, the deadliest two-day protest massacre in the country’s history. Other estimates suggest the number could be higher.
“The scale of the violence remains contested, but the targeting of athletes highlights the regime’s intent to silence prominent figures in public life,” human rights observers said.
Mohammadi, who competed internationally and won a bronze medal at the 2024 Saitiev Cup in Russia, denied the charges in court. Sources close to him say his confession was coerced through torture and members of Iran’s wrestling community defended him as having no history of violence, reports Iran INTL.
“Mohammadi had represented Iran in international wrestling events, including the 2024 Saitiev Cup in Russia, where he won a bronze medal,” a source familiar with the case said.
The execution draws parallels to Navid Afkari, another Iranian wrestler executed in 2020 after being convicted of murdering a security guard during protests. Afkari’s death became a symbol of the regime’s use of capital punishment against athletes.
Authorities accused those executed of acting on behalf of foreign powers, a claim frequently levied against protesters. Observers have noted repeated violations of due process in these cases, including forced confessions, denial of access to chosen lawyers, and exclusion of defense witnesses. Mohammadi’s supporters said CCTV footage did not identify him, and alibi witnesses were barred from testifying.
A wider crackdown on Iran’s sporting community continues. Dozens of athletes, coaches, and referees remain in custody. Names reported in detention include footballer Mohammad Hossein Hosseini, water polo goalkeeper Ali Pishevarzadeh, marathon runner Niloufar Pas, kickboxing champion Benjamin Naghdi, teenage footballer Abolfazl Dokht, and boxer Mohammad Javad Vafaei Sani.
Others in custody include basketball coach Payam Vahidi, billiards coach Hamzeh Kazemi, aerobics coach Narges Heidari, and former footballer Amir Reza Nasr Azadani, whose arrest had drawn international concern. Several detainees are minors or young athletes, including Amirhossein Ghaderzadeh, 19, and Abolfazl Dokht. Boxer Mohammad Mahshari, a bronze medalist at the 2024 Asian youth and under-23 championships, is also reported to be detained.
“The list extends to referees and lesser-known competitors, showing how deeply the crackdown has reached into Iran’s sporting community,” rights monitors said.
At least 65 athletes, coaches, and referees have been identified among those killed during January protests, although the true toll is unclear. Iran International reviewed documents suggesting more than 36,500 Iranians were killed by security forces during the January 8-9 crackdown, the deadliest two-day protest massacre in the country’s history. Other estimates suggest the number could be higher.
“The scale of the violence remains contested, but the targeting of athletes highlights the regime’s intent to silence prominent figures in public life,” human rights observers said.
