Authorities in Iran have executed three individuals, including a 19-year-old wrestler, following allegations tied to anti-government protests. The deceased, identified as Saleh Mohammadi, was reportedly executed alongside Mehdi Ghasemi and Saeed Davoudi in the city of Qom.
According to reports, Mohammadi was arrested in January during nationwide protests and was later convicted of killing a security officer. He was charged with “moharebeh,” a term under Iranian law meaning “waging war against God,” which carries the death penalty.
Human rights organization Amnesty International stated that Mohammadi denied the allegations and claimed his confession was obtained under torture. However, the court reportedly dismissed these claims without further investigation before sentencing him to death.
The executions are said to be the first confirmed capital punishments directly linked to the protests that began in late 2022. Those demonstrations, initially sparked by economic hardship, evolved into widespread calls for political reform and greater freedoms.
Another rights group, Iran Human Rights, condemned the executions, describing them as unjust and based on coerced confessions. The group further alleged that the trials were unfair and aimed at silencing dissent.
The protests in Iran intensified following the death of Mahsa Amini in 2022, an incident that ignited the “Woman, Life, Freedom” movement. Since then, rights organizations have reported thousands of deaths and arrests, with many detainees allegedly subjected to abuse while in custody.
Reports also indicate that young people have been significantly affected, with hundreds of minors among those killed during the crackdown. Despite growing international concern, Iranian authorities have maintained their stance, describing the protests as foreign-backed unrest.
Human rights groups continue to call for accountability and an end to what they describe as escalating repression within the country.
