Iran executed 19-year-old champion wrestler Saleh Mohammadi and two others in gruesome public hangings

Iran executed Saleh Mohammadi, a 19-year-old champion wrestler, along with two other protesters on Thursday, March 18, 2026, in a public hanging. The three men were arrested during the brutal January anti-regime protests and were accused of killing two police officers with knives and swords.

The executions have sparked global outrage, especially from human rights groups, who allege that the men were subjected to torture to obtain confessions and were denied a fair trial.

A Political Murder and Human Rights Violations

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According to Nima Far, a human rights activist and Iranian combat athlete, the execution of Mohammadi is part of a disturbing pattern by the Iranian government to target athletes and crush dissent. “His execution was a blatant political murder,” Far said, emphasizing the government’s use of athletes as a tool of intimidation.

Amnesty International condemned the “fast-tracked proceedings”, which lacked the proper legal protections, and called for international action. The organization highlighted that the three men were denied adequate defense and forced into confessions, violating basic human rights.

The International Reaction and Calls for Action

The execution of Mohammadi, along with Mehdi Ghasemi and Saeed Davoudi, echoes the 2020 execution of another wrestler, Navid Afkari, who was convicted of killing an Iranian security guard during a 2018 protest.

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Far, along with global organizations such as the International Olympic Committee and United World Wrestling, has called for a ban on Iran from international competitions until the country halts executions of protesters and athletes.

“Iran must be banned from international competitions until it halts executions of protesters and athletes, releases those jailed in sham trials, and ends retaliation against competitors who speak out or defect,” Far stated.

Women’s Soccer Team Targets by Regime

The executions coincide with the return of Iran’s women’s soccer team, who faced intense scrutiny after failing to sing the national anthem during the Asia Cup earlier this month. Several players sought asylum in Australia after family members were allegedly threatened by the Iranian government.

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Activist Masih Alinejad condemned the regime’s actions and called on the Global Athlete group to stand in solidarity with Iranian athletes who are silenced, imprisoned, or executed simply for expressing dissent. “This is not just about sports. This is about human dignity,” Alinejad said.

Escalating Tensions and Fears of More Executions

The ongoing crackdown has drawn increasing concerns, especially after the mass arrests following the January 8 and 9 protests, where Tehran’s security forces killed more than 7,000 protesters.

As the full extent of the violence became apparent after a nationwide internet blackout, human rights organizations warned that these recent executions could just be the beginning of a new wave of political repression.

The Iran Human Rights Documentation Center has stated that the killings are aimed at creating an atmosphere of intimidation and deterrence, to suppress any future dissent.

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