Three men, including 19-year-old freestyle wrestler Saleh Mohammadi, were executed at Qom Central Prison on March 19, 2026, Iran's judiciary-linked Mizan news agency reported. The executions followed convictions for "enmity against God" (moharebeh) related to the alleged killing of two police officers during protests in Qom on January 8, 2026.[1][2]
Mohammadi was described by the Hengaw Organization for Human Rights as a member of Iran's national wrestling team. Footage posted by Hengaw showed Mohammadi training, which he had previously shared on Instagram.[3] Reports indicated he won a bronze medal for Iran in freestyle wrestling at the Saytiyev International Cup in Krasnoyarsk, Russia, in September 2024.[2]
The U.S. State Department expressed concern in late January 2026 over reports of Mohammadi's impending execution, calling on Iran to halt it and others related to protest participation. The statement appeared on the department's Farsi-language account on X.[4]
Iranian-American wrestlers, including former Greco-Roman world champion Sardar Pashaei and Afsoon Roshanzamir Johnston, urged Iranian authorities not to execute Mohammadi.[1] Pashaei described speaking with an Iranian national team coach before internet restrictions in Iran.
The case drew comparisons to the 2020 execution of wrestler Navid Afkari, who was hanged after conviction for murder during 2018 protests. Afkari's case prompted international calls, including from United World Wrestling, for clemency.[5][6]
Human rights activist Masih Alinejad stated on X that the executions involved Mohammadi, Mehdi Ghasemi and Saeed Davoudi following a trial she described as lacking due process. She called for sports organizations to support Iranian athletes.[7]
Activists including Nima Far and Alireza Nader called for sports boycotts or suspensions of Iran by bodies such as the International Olympic Committee and United World Wrestling.[1]
Note: Reports vary on execution details, with some describing a public hanging and others a secret early-morning execution.[1][3]
Sources
- Fox News Digital, Coverage of Saleh Mohammadi execution, March 2026, https://www.foxnews.com/
- Iran International, Report on executions in Qom, March 19, 2026, https://www.iranintl.com/en
- Hengaw Organization for Human Rights, Statement on Saleh Mohammadi, March 2026, https://hengaw.net/en
- U.S. State Department, Official statements on Iran executions, accessed April 2026, https://www.state.gov/
- Reuters, "Iran executes wrestler Navid Afkari sentenced for murder", September 12, 2020, https://www.reuters.com/article/us-iran-protests-wrestler/iran-executes-wrestler-navid-afkari-sentenced-for-murder-idUSKBN2621Q5/
- Associated Press, Coverage of Navid Afkari execution, September 2020, https://apnews.com/
- Masih Alinejad on X, Post on executions, March 2026, https://x.com/AlinejadMasih
- Mizan News Agency, Execution announcement, March 19, 2026, https://www.mizanonline.ir/