Saleh Mohammadi, a 19-year-old Iranian wrestler, was executed on March 19 in Qom, along with two other men, Mehdi Ghasemi and Saeed Davoudi.
Saleh Mohammadi was considered a promising athlete. He had participated in international competitions and won a bronze medal at the 2024 Saitiev Cup. His profile as a young sportsman contributed to the widespread media coverage of his execution, recalling other similar cases involving athletes in Iran.
An arrest following the January 2026 protests
The events date back to early 2026, amidst anti-regime protests in Iran, particularly in the city of Qom. Saleh Mohammadi was arrested on January 15, 2026, a few days after protests that took place on January 8.
Iranian authorities accused him of participating in violence against security forces, including the murder of a police officer. The court file also mentions the charge of "enmity against God," or moharebeh, a criminal charge frequently used in cases related to political unrest and punishable by death in the Iranian legal system.
A trial contested by international organizations
The conduct of the legal proceedings has drawn widespread criticism. Several human rights organizations, including Amnesty International and Iran Human Rights, have cited serious violations of fair trial guarantees.
According to these organizations, Saleh Mohammadi's confession was obtained under torture. The accused reportedly denied any involvement in the events and claimed he was not present at the scene of the crime. Evidence presented in his defense, including a possible alibi, was allegedly rejected by the court.
The trial was allegedly conducted in an expedited manner, with limited access to an independent defense, fueling accusations of judicial irregularities. Amnesty International denounced the "Expedited and manifestly unfair trials" in several similar cases related to the recent demonstrations.
A death sentence followed by a public execution
In early February 2026, Saleh Mohammadi was sentenced to death under the principle of qisas, a mechanism of Iranian criminal law based on the law of retaliation. The sentence was carried out on March 19 by public hanging in Qom, according to reports from several media outlets, including the New York Post.
The three executed men are presented by the authorities as responsible for the death of a member of the security forces. However, international critics question the reliability of the evidence and the fairness of the procedure.
This execution is considered one of the first officially linked to the 2026 protests.
The execution of Saleh Mohammadi sparked international outrage, particularly from non-governmental organizations and figures in the sports world. Several observers drew parallels with the case of Navid Afkari, an Iranian wrestler executed in 2020 under similarly controversial circumstances.
NGOs are denouncing the instrumentalization of the death penalty for political ends, aimed at deterring any challenge to the regime. Amnesty International and other organizations have called for increased international mobilization and pressure measures against the Iranian authorities, including in the field of sports.
Wider repression of protest movements
Following the protests that took place in Iran at the beginning of 2026, thousands of people were arrested and several death sentences were handed down.
Iranian authorities continue to use criminal charges such as "War against God" ou "Corruption on Earth", offences punishable by death, to judge individuals involved in protest movements.
The execution of Saleh Mohammadi is now presented by many organizations as a symbol of the human rights situation in Iran.
