Saleh Mohammadi, a 19-year-old champion freestyle wrestler, was publicly hanged in Iran on March 19, 2026. The charge: *moharebeh*, or waging war against God. His young life was extinguished as part of a chillingly familiar pattern of state-sponsored violence, a brutal demonstration of power intended to silence dissent.
Mohammadi, along with Saeed Davoudi and Mehdi Ghasemi, was arrested in December 2025 following protests sparked by the deaths of two police officers. The regime swiftly accused them of *moharebeh*, a capital offense frequently used to crush opposition. His 19th birthday passed just days before his execution, celebrated within the confines of a prison cell.
The Islamic Republic operates under the doctrine of *velayat-e faqih*, the guardianship of the Islamic jurist. This foundational principle asserts that the supreme leader rules as God’s representative on Earth. Consequently, any challenge to the state is not merely political defiance, but a direct affront to the divine order.
Mohammadi pleaded with the court, claiming his confession was coerced through torture. His desperate plea was ignored. Witness testimony and CCTV footage contradicting the charges were dismissed. He was denied the basic right to independent legal representation, a stark illustration of the regime’s disregard for due process.
These hangings marked the first publicly announced executions linked to the widespread protests of December 2025. However, warnings from human rights organizations suggest hundreds more detainees face similar charges, potentially leading to a wave of further executions. Iran already ranks among the world’s leading executioners, second only to China.
The targeting of athletes is not new. Decades ago, Hooshang Montazeralzohour, an Olympic wrestler, was arrested in 1981 and executed on accusations of affiliation with the People’s Mujahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI), also known as MEK. This organization, once part of the revolution, became a target after falling out of favor with the ruling clerics.
Throughout the 1980s, the regime weaponized accusations of PMOI membership – often fabricated – to justify the execution of political prisoners, including prominent figures like athletes. This tactic served as a chilling method of silencing dissent and consolidating power.
The most horrific example of this systematic brutality was the 1988 massacre. Under a fatwa issued by Ayatollah Khomeini, “Death Commissions” systematically executed thousands, primarily targeting PMOI supporters. Estimates of the death toll range from 2,800 to a staggering 30,000.
Navid Afkari, a Greco-Roman wrestler, became a symbol of this injustice. Arrested during protests in 2018, he was convicted of a crime he vehemently denied, even recording a desperate plea from prison: “The Islamic Republic of Iran is about to execute an innocent person.” Despite international appeals, he was executed in 2020.
Afkari’s case resonated globally, prompting calls for clemency from figures like the IOC President and the U.S. President. Yet, the regime remained unmoved. His family was forced to bury him in secrecy, under constant surveillance, a final act of control and intimidation.
A statue of Afkari, created by sculptor Reza Olia, stands as a testament to his courage and a symbol of resistance. Displayed at a Free Iran summit, it serves as a powerful reminder of the regime’s brutality and the ongoing struggle for freedom.
The U.S. State Department has acknowledged Afkari’s case as part of a broader pattern of impunity – systematic torture, forced confessions, and executions carried out without any semblance of due process. This pattern continues with the execution of Saleh Mohammadi.
Mohammadi’s fate is tragically predictable. Over five decades, the regime has consistently targeted athletes, falsely accusing them of involvement in violence, extracting confessions through torture, denying them fair trials, and ultimately, extinguishing their lives. It is a chilling cycle of oppression, and a stark warning of the regime’s unwavering brutality.
