Iran publicly executes teenage wrestling champion Saleh Mohammadi
Teenage amateur wrestling champion Saleh Mohammadi has been publicly executed in Iran on Thursday following allegations of his involvement in anti-government protests.
State media confirmed the 19-year-old was put to death in the northern Qom province.
The execution was carried out after the Supreme Court upheld his death sentence alongside two other men, Mehdi Ghasemi and Saeed Davoudi.
Iran’s Tasnim news agency reported the trio were found guilty of killing two police officers during separate attacks.
Authorities also convicted the men of “moharebeh” – a charge translating to waging war against God that is frequently used against political opponents.
Amnesty International condemn compromised trial
Human rights organisations have heavily criticised the judicial process leading to the young athlete’s death.
Amnesty International stated the amateur competitor was sentenced following a severely compromised trial based on coerced testimonies.
Reports indicate the teenager was forced into making self-incriminating confessions during the initial investigation phase before retracting them in court.
Despite testifying that his admission of guilt was obtained under severe torture, the presiding judge dismissed his claims.
The court allegedly relied on statements made during a staged crime scene reconstruction and disputed eyewitness accounts.
He had been sentenced to death following an unfair trial, based on confessions obtained under torture.
Amnesty International
Broader crackdown on civilian protests
The wrestler’s execution occurred just 24 hours after Iranian-Swedish national Kouroush Keyvani was hanged on espionage charges.
Widespread anti-government demonstrations have recently swept across 180 cities in all 31 Iranian provinces.
Public anger was initially sparked by a devastating collapse of the national currency and a soaring cost of living.
A near-total shutdown of internet services has severely restricted the flow of information regarding the ongoing civil unrest.
The US-based Human Rights Activist News Agency estimates that over 7,000 individuals lost their lives during January’s demonstrations.
