Iran regime hangs 19-year-old wrestler Saleh Mohammadi for protesting regime

[ad_1] NEW Now you can hearken to Fox Information articles!

The Islamic Republic of Iran’s judiciary on Thursday ignored a U.S. State Department warning together with pleas from elite Iranian-American wrestlers to not execute 19-year-old champion wrestler Saleh Mohammadi for protesting towards the Khamenei regime.

Stories say Mohammadi was killed in a public hanging seen as a barbaric transfer by the Iranian regime to snuff out the continued motion searching for to topple it, in keeping with Iranian-American human rights activists and dissidents.

Nima Far, a human rights activist and Iranian fight athlete who an professional on elite Iranian wrestling, advised Fox Information Digital, "His execution was a blatant political homicide, a part of the Islamic Republic’s sample of concentrating on athletes to crush dissent and terrorize society, as seen with Navid Afkari and others executed regardless of worldwide outcry."

STATE DEPARTMENT DEMANDS IRAN HALT EXECUTION OF 19-YEAR-OLD WRESTLING STAR

Wrestling champion Saleh Mohammadi faces imminent execution in Iran for protest participation as worldwide strain mounts to save lots of the athlete. (The Overseas Desk)

He stated, "The IOC [International Olympic Committee] and UWW [United World Wrestling] ought to have intervened forcefully with public ultimatums, threatening speedy suspension of Iran’s NOC [National Olympic Committee] and federations if the killing proceeded quite than counting on ineffective quiet diplomacy, given their very own commitments to guard athletes from politically motivated hurt." Each organizations did put out statements after being requested for response from Fox Information Digital upon Mohammadi's loss of life sentence.

Far referred to as on the wrestling authorities to take motion, stating, "Iran have to be banned from international competitions till it halts executions of protesters and athletes, releases these jailed in sham trials, and ends retaliation towards rivals who converse out or defect."

Fox Information Digital despatched new press queries to the IOC and UWW.

Iranians collect whereas blocking a road throughout a protest in Tehran, Iran on Jan. 9, 2026. (MAHSA / Center East Pictures / AFP by way of Getty Pictures)

Reactions to his loss of life got here flooding in from Iranian commentators.

Alizreza Nader, an professional on Iran and the human rights state of affairs within the nation, advised Fox Information Digital, "I really feel very dangerous for him and his household. There ought to be a boycott of the regime relating to worldwide sport. I do fear about particular person athletes who shall be impacted by this, as athletes in Iran are enduring very harsh circumstances, together with some reported as being digital hostages by the regime. However there have to be a heavy worth for the regime for executing younger individuals like this. There have to be a deterrent."

IRANIAN SECURITY FORCES GUN DOWN AMATEUR BOXER AS FATHER SEARCHES MORGUES FOR MISSING SON: SOURCE

The Iranian-American activist, Masih Alinejad, wrote on X: "Right now, in Iran, in the midst of a battle, the regime executed a 19-year-old nationwide wrestling champion for the crime of becoming a member of January protests. After signaling to the world, together with President @realDonaldTrump , that they'd halt executions of protesters, the regime has finished the precise reverse."

She added, "Three younger protesters, Saleh Mohammadi, Mehdi Ghasemi, and Saeed Davoudi, have been hanged in Qom after a sham trial. Stories point out torture. Pressured confessions. No entry to chosen attorneys. Closed-door proceedings. No proper to attraction. I name on @GlobalAthleteHQ to face with Iranian athletes who're being silenced, imprisoned, and executed merely for elevating their voices. This isn't nearly sports activities. That is about human dignity."

Fox Information Digital reported in late January that the official X account for the State Division in Farsi wrote,"The USA is deeply involved by reviews that 19-year-old wrestling champion Saleh Mohammadi is going through imminent execution. The regime of the Islamic Republic of Iran is massacring younger individuals and destroying Iran’s future. We name on the Iranian regime to halt the execution of Saleh Mohammadi and all these sentenced to loss of life for exercising their basic rights. #SalehMohammadi #StopExecutionsInIran #HumanRights #IranProtest."

LEAKED DOCUMENTS EXPOSE KHAMENEI'S SECRET DEADLY BLUEPRINT FOR CRUSHING IRAN PROTESTS

Elite Iranian-American wrestlers advised Fox Information Digital in February that Iran’s regime should stop the executions of athletes. Sardar Pashaei, who received a Greco-Roman wrestling world championship title for Iran and coached the nation’s elite Greco-Roman staff, together with Afsoon Roshanzamir Johnston, the primary American feminine wrestler to win a medal in world championship competitors in 1989, urged the regime not implement the focused killing of athletes.

Pashaei advised Fox Digital on Thursday that "My coronary heart is damaged for this younger wrestler. Anybody who nonetheless exhibits sympathy for the Islamic Republic ought to perceive — that is solely a small glimpse of its brutality."

He added, "Earlier than the web was shut down, I spoke with certainly one of Iran’s nationwide wrestling staff coaches. He warned me that Saleh’s case was crucial. We have been each deeply nervous. I did the whole lot I might — chatting with the media, elevating consciousness — however I couldn't save him. This regime is constructed on executions, worry, and hatred. It doesn't change. The Worldwide Olympic Committee and international sports activities our bodies failed."

Iran Worldwide reported that Iran’s regime hanged Mohammadi and two extra Iranian males, Mehdi Ghasemiand Saeed Davoudi,"after being accused of killing two cops throughout nationwide protests earlier this 12 months, the judiciary-linked Mizan information company reported."

A billboard depicting Iran's supreme leaders since 1979: (L to R) Ayatollahs Ruhollah Khomeini (till 1989), Ali Khamenei (till 2026), and Mojtaba Khamenei (incumbent) is displayed above a freeway in Tehran on March 10, 2026. Iran marked the appointment of Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei to switch his father as its supreme chief on March 9, 2026. (AFP/Through Getty Pictures)

The three males allegedly attacked "two cops with knives and swords throughout protests on January 8 within the holy metropolis of Qom."

The regime claimed that the boys acted on behalf of Israel and the USA. Iran Worldwide famous that is "a frequent declare utilized by the Islamic Republic towards protesters and dissidents."

Mohammadi received a bronze medal in September 2024, for Iran’s nationwide freestyle wrestling on the Saytiyev Worldwide Cup in Krasnoyarsk, Russia.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

The Hengaw group for human rights posted wrestling footage of Mohammadi. Hengaw wrote on X: "Footage exhibits Saleh Mohammadi, a 19-year-old athlete and member of Iran’s nationwide wrestling staff, who was secretly executed within the early hours of Thursday, March 19, 2026, in Qom Central Jail on costs of ‘enmity towards God’ (moharebeh). Mohammadi had beforehand shared this video on his Instagram web page, documenting his athletic journey and efforts towards success."

Fox Information Digital reached out to the U.S. State Division and Iran’s U.N. Mission in New York for feedback.

Benjamin Weinthal reviews on Israel , Iran , Syria , Turkey and Europe. You'll be able to observe Benjamin on Twitter @BenWeinthal, and e mail him at benjamin.weinthal@fox.com