Iran Executes Teenage Champion Wrestler Amid Crackdown on Protesters
Iran has reportedly executed three people, including a teenage champion wrestler, in a public hanging as part of a brutal crackdown on anti-regime protesters. The executions, which occurred in the city of Qom on Thursday, mark the first official deaths linked to the widespread protests that began last year.
Details of the Executions
Champion wrestler Saleh Mohammadi, aged 19, was killed alongside Mehdi Ghasemi and Saeed Davoudi. According to reports from the judiciary's Mizan Online news agency, the individuals were accused of killing two police officers during the anti-regime protests. Mohammadi was sentenced to death in February, less than three weeks after his arrest, over the alleged murder of a security agent on January 8.
Mohammadi denied the accusation, claiming his earlier confessions were extracted under torture. However, the court dismissed his claims without conducting any investigation. Ghasemi was accused of participating in the killing, while Davoudi faced charges for murdering another policeman on the same day.
International Condemnation and Human Rights Concerns
The executions have drawn sharp criticism from human rights organizations. Iran Human Rights, a Norway-based NGO, condemned the deaths, stating they followed "grossly unfair trials, based on confessions extracted under torture and coercion." The organization added, "We consider these executions to constitute extrajudicial killings, carried out with the intent of creating terror to suppress political dissent."
Amnesty International reported that Mohammadi was convicted of the capital offence of 'moharebeh', or 'waging war against God'. The NGO highlighted that Mohammadi had just turned 19 last week, and Davoudi's 22nd birthday is this weekend, underscoring the youth of those executed.
Background of the Protests and Crackdown
Protests erupted in Iran in late December, initially driven by rising living costs before evolving into nationwide anti-government demonstrations. The unrest peaked on January 8 and 9, with Iranian authorities launching a harsh crackdown, labeling the events as "foreign-instigated riots" involving killings and vandalism.
Tehran has acknowledged that more than 3,000 people died during the unrest, attributing the violence to "terrorist acts." However, the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) has recorded over 7,000 killings, warning that the actual toll could be significantly higher. This discrepancy highlights the ongoing human rights crisis and the regime's efforts to suppress dissent through extreme measures.
