Overview
- Iran’s judiciary-linked outlet Mizan reported that Saleh Mohammadi, Mehdi Ghasemi and Saeed Davoudi were hanged in Qom on March 19 for moharebeh after accusations they killed two police officers during January 8 unrest.
- Iran Human Rights and Amnesty International say the men were denied independent counsel and convicted in unfair proceedings that relied on confessions alleged to have been extracted under torture.
- Reports from rights monitors note Mohammadi retracted his confession in court and that potential exculpatory testimony and CCTV evidence were disregarded by judges.
- The U.S. State Department had publicly urged Tehran to halt Mohammadi’s execution, and the hangings drew immediate international condemnation.
- Mohammadi, 19, was a rising national wrestler who won bronze at Russia’s 2024 Saitiev Cup, and activists are invoking the 2020 Navid Afkari case to press the IOC and United World Wrestling for sanctions as more detainees face possible death sentences.