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The Iranian regime executed the young fighter Saleh Mohammadi, aged 19, following a judicial process questioned by international organizations and media.
The athlete was sentenced to death for the alleged murder of an agent during protests in the city of Qom. According to the court, Mohammadi was seen participating in a group that threw Molotov cocktails at security forces in Nabutov Square.
Iranian authorities announced on Thursday the execution of three prisoners sentenced for their alleged participation in the protests of January, during which two security agents reportedly lost their lives. The executed individuals were identified as Mehdi Ghasemi, Saeid Davudi, and Mohammadi.
El País reported that the three had been sentenced to death for the crime of moharebeh ("enmity against God"), a legal concept used by the regime to punish alleged offenses against public safety, Islam, or for presumed espionage.
Marca reported that Iranian authorities hold the young athlete responsible for the injury that caused the death of agent Mohammad Ghasemi Homapour, who fell from his motorcycle during the unrest.
The accusation was primarily based on "confessions obtained during the interrogation." However, the young man denied committing the murder and claimed that these confessions were obtained under coercion, a practice frequently criticized in the Iranian judicial system.
Testimonies from coaches, teammates, and other fighters claim that Saleh Mohammadi was not carrying any weapon. Moreover, they assert that his face does not appear on the surveillance cameras at the location. Family members state that the young man was at his uncle's house at the time of the events.
The case has generated a strong international condemnation. The U.S. Department of State denounced that the Iranian regime “is slaughtering young people and destroying the future of the country,” and urged to stop the executions of those who exercise fundamental rights.
The former wrestler Sardar Pashaei warned that, in less than ten days, more than 30 athletes have died from gunfire in Iran. Among the victims are minors, national champions, and coaches, while others remain missing or imprisoned.
The execution of Saleh Mohammadi reinforces the allegations of systematic repression against youth and athletes amid the political crisis in the country.
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