Kamal Ghorui
Saleh Mohammadi was 19 when he was executed by the Iranian authorities. A young wrestling champion, he had spent years training for his dream of competing on the global stage. Instead, his life ended on the gallows in Qom, at the hands of the same country he once hoped to represent. His execution has sparked outrage across the world. A teenager was put to death after a process that human rights groups say was deeply flawed. Authorities accused him of moharebeh, or “enmity against God”, a charge frequently used in protest-related cases. For many, his death is not just another execution, but a stark example of how dissent is being punished with irreversible consequences.
From wrestling Champion to execution
Mohammadi was widely described as a talented freestyle wrestler, competing in domestic tournaments and reportedly earning recognition in international competitions. Images circulated after his death showed a teenager in national colours, celebrating victories and training with discipline, an image sharply at odds with the accusations that would later define his final weeks.His arrest came in January 2026, during protests in the city of Qom. These demonstrations were part of a wider wave of unrest that began in late 2025, driven by economic grievances and evolving into broader anti-regime dissent. Within days of his detention, Mohammadi was placed at the centre of a serious criminal case.
The charges: ‘enmity against God’
Under Iranian law, moharebeh, or “enmity against God”, is one of the most severe charges in the legal system, historically used for armed rebellion but increasingly applied in protest-related cases. The term allows authorities to frame dissent not just as a political act, but as a religious and existential threat to the state.In Mohammadi’s case, prosecutors accused him and two others, Mehdi Ghasemi and Saeed Davoudi, of killing members of the security forces during clashes in Qom. Officials presented the case as one of violent insurrection rather than protest, arguing that their actions amounted to waging war against the state.Critics, however, argue that the broad interpretation of moharebeh gives authorities sweeping power to pursue capital punishment in politically sensitive cases. By placing protest-related violence under this charge, they say, the line between dissent and armed rebellion becomes blurred, with severe consequences for those accused.State media portrayed the executions as justice for slain officers and a necessary response to threats against national security. The judiciary maintained that the convictions were upheld by the Supreme Court, presenting the process as legally sound and procedurally complete.
Iran executed three men on Thursday who were accused of killing police officers during protests in January
Last-minute appeals and calls to stop the execution
In the weeks leading up to the execution, human rights organisations, including Amnesty International, issued urgent appeals calling for the sentence to be halted. Advocacy groups warned that the case bore the hallmarks of previous protest-related executions, urging international pressure before it was too late.Activists and members of the Iranian diaspora amplified Mohammadi’s case across social media, attempting to draw global attention in the hope that visibility might delay or prevent the execution. Some calls were directed at prominent figures in the sporting world, echoing past efforts to mobilise athletes and organisations.Despite these efforts, there was no large-scale international intervention comparable to the campaign seen in the case of Navid Afkari. No confirmed diplomatic breakthrough or public appeal from major global sports bodies materialised in time. The execution ultimately went ahead, underscoring the limited impact such last-minute campaigns often face.
Allegations of forced confessions and unfair trial
Human rights organisations, including Amnesty International, have strongly disputed the official narrative. According to their findings, Mohammadi’s trial was marked by serious due process violations.Reports suggest he was denied access to a lawyer of his choosing, held incommunicado for extended periods, and subjected to coercion. In court, he reportedly retracted earlier confessions, claiming they had been extracted under torture. These allegations, rights groups say, were dismissed without proper investigation.The trial itself was described as swift and opaque, with limited opportunity for defence or appeal. Critics argue that such proceedings fall short of international legal standards and point to a pattern seen in other protest-related cases.
A wider crackdown unfolding
Mohammadi’s execution did not occur in isolation. Since late 2025, Iran has faced sustained unrest, with thousands reportedly killed and many more detained. Independent observers and UN-linked experts have warned of a sharp rise in executions, particularly those linked to protest activity.The use of charges like moharebeh has drawn scrutiny, as they allow authorities to frame dissent as a theological and existential threat. For many analysts, this reflects a strategy aimed at deterring further protests through fear and swift punishment.Hundreds of detainees are believed to remain on death row, raising concerns that Mohammadi’s case may not be the last.
Echoes of Navid Afkari
The case has drawn inevitable comparisons to Navid Afkari, another Iranian wrestler executed in 2020 after participating in protests. Afkari’s death prompted global outrage, with appeals from figures such as Dana White and Donald Trump failing to halt the execution.For activists, Mohammadi’s death signals that little has changed. The targeting of athletes, figures often seen as national symbols, adds a layer of visibility and symbolism to these cases, amplifying international attention while deepening domestic fear.
Sport, politics, and silence
The execution has reignited debate over the role of global sporting bodies and prominent figures in responding to human rights concerns. Campaigners argue that silence from international organisations risks normalising such actions, while others caution against politicising sport.The phrase increasingly echoed by activists, “no human rights, no real sport”, captures this tension. Whether that message gains traction beyond social media remains uncertain.
A life that became a symbol
Saleh Mohammadi was 19. He was a wrestler with a future, a young man who trained for years with the hope of stepping onto the world stage. That future ended at the gallows.His execution is not just another statistic. It is a reminder that in today’s Iran, even a teenager chasing a dream can be sentenced to death. And for many watching, the question is no longer what happened to him, but how many more could follow.
