Iran executes 19-year-old international wrestling star

The Islamic Republic of Iran on March 19 executed 19-year-old champion wrestler Saleh Mohammadi, accused of killing two police officers during nationwide anti-regime demonstrations in January, reports The Indian Express. The execution has now sparked fear over the fate of other athletes detained on charges of various alleged offences during the protests.
Mohammadi was reportedly charged with ‘enmity against God’ (moharebeh) and executed along with two others — Mehdi Ghasemi and Saeed Davoudi — who took part in the demonstrations.
According to Iran International, the three men accused of attacking “two police officers with knives and swords during protests on January 8 in the holy city of Qom.”
The Hengaw Organization for Human Rights posted wrestling footage of Mohammadi. Hengaw wrote on X: “Footage shows Saleh Mohammadi, a 19-year-old athlete and member of Iran’s national wrestling team, who was secretly executed in the early hours of Thursday, March 19, 2026, in Qom Central Prison on charges of ‘enmity against God’ (moharebeh). Mohammadi had previously shared this video on his Instagram page, documenting his athletic journey and efforts toward success.”
Born in 2007, Mohammadi competed for Iran’s national freestyle wrestling team in September 2024, winning bronze at the Saytiyev International Cup in Krasnoyarsk, Russia. His execution comes after warnings from the State Department and elite Iranian-American wrestlers.
Iran’s theocratic regime, which witnessed the largest uprising since its founding, claimed that the three men acted on behalf of Israel and the United States.
Sanction-driven inflation and a cost of living crisis triggered millions of protestors pouring into the streets across the country in January. The ensuing crackdown resulted in at least 6,000 deaths, while some reports suggested a toll of at least 30,000.