BEIRUT (AP) Iran has executed a 19-year-old wrestler, Saleh Mohammadi, along with two other young men, Mehdi Qasemi and Saeed Davoudi, this week. These executions have alarmed human rights groups, as they fear a wave of capital punishments is underway. The Iranian authorities appear to be attempting to suppress public dissent amid ongoing hostilities from the U.S. and Israel.
The three men are the first to face execution among the tens of thousands arrested during the nationwide protests triggered by government repression in January. Rights organizations report that over 100 additional individuals could also be sentenced to death. Mohammadi, Qasemi, and Davoudi were hanged early Thursday morning in Qom, just south of Tehran. They were convicted of "moharabeh," or "waging war against God," following allegations that they killed two police officers during protests.
Amnesty International condemned the trials of these men as "grossly unfair," claiming that confessions were obtained through torture. Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam, director of Iran Human Rights, stated that the executions were aimed at instilling fear and discouraging further protests. He expressed concerns that additional executions of protesters and political prisoners could occur soon.
According to Amiry-Moghaddam, at least 27 people arrested during the protests have received death sentences, with another 100 facing charges that could lead to the death penalty. The Iranian government has reportedly broadcasted numerous forced confessions related to crimes punishable by death. Protests that began in late December peaked in early January and led to the deadliest crackdown by Iranian security forces since 1979.
Determining the complete death toll from the protests remains challenging due to internet restrictions. The U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency has reported over 7,000 confirmed deaths and is investigating thousands more, while the government has acknowledged that more than 3,000 people were killed. At the peak of the protests, Iranian authorities hinted at fast trials and executions for those arrested. In a related context, U.S. President Donald Trump once discussed potential military action to halt the crackdown but later announced that plans for executions had ceased.
Despite the ongoing conflict involving Iran, the authorities have continued their crackdown on dissent, detaining scores of individuals since the war began on February 28, including participants of the January protests. Mohammadi and his co-defendants were arrested in Qom on January 15, 2023, under unclear circumstances. Their trial began shortly after the alleged crime—killing a police officer on January 8—and concluded with convictions in early February.
During his imprisonment, Mohammadi suffered physical abuse, including a broken hand. Amnesty reported that he denied the charges and revoked his confession in court, citing coercion under torture. According to the organization, Iranian authorities have routinely subjected detainees to enforced disappearances and torture to extract confessions.
The Iranian judiciary's official news agency, Mizan, announced the trio's execution, showing footage of them in court and claiming they confessed to using knives and swords in the murders. Amiry-Moghaddam highlighted that the Islamic Republic views the drive for significant change by the Iranian populace as its primary threat, not external forces.
Saleh Mohammadi was an accomplished athlete, having won a bronze medal in wrestling at an international youth tournament in Krasnoyarsk, Russia, in 2024. Despite the repressive atmosphere, he maintained an active presence on social media, sharing motivational posts about his workouts and wrestling practices. Witnesses describe him as exuberant and determined, even amidst the turmoil surrounding him.
