Iran Executes 19-Year-Old Youth Wrestling Champion Saleh Mohammadi

Iran has executed a 19-year-old member of its national youth wrestling team. Saleh Mohammadi was hanged in the city of Qom after being convicted for his alleged involvement in anti-government protests earlier this year.

The young athlete was found guilty of attacking police officers during demonstrations on January 8. The judiciary charged him with "moharebeh" (enmity against God), a capital offense under Iran's legal system that carries the death penalty.

Mohammadi maintained his innocence throughout the proceedings, claiming that any confessions were extracted under torture. Human rights groups reported that these allegations were dismissed by the court without proper investigation, and that the trial process lacked transparency and was conducted with unusual speed.

His defense presented alibi evidence from coaches and teammates who stated Mohammadi was at his uncle's home at the time of the alleged incident. However, these testimonies were reportedly not taken into consideration during the trial.

Saleh Mohammadi had represented Iran in international competitions. In September 2024, he won a bronze medal at the Buvaisar Saitiev International Tournament held in Krasnoyarsk, Russia.