Iranian judicial authorities executed 19-year-old wrestler Saleh Mohammadi, along with Mehdi Ghasemi and Saeed Davoudi, on Thursday after convicting them of killing two police officers during nationwide protests earlier this year, according to Mizan news agency, affiliated with Iran's judiciary.[1][2]
Iran International reported the executions were carried out by public hanging, citing activist sources and dissident reports.[2]
Saleh Mohammadi was described as a promising young wrestler by human rights activists.[2]
Several U.S. Olympians expressed sorrow over the execution in statements to Fox News Digital.[3]
Brandon Slay, who won gold in the men's 76kg Greco-Roman wrestling at the 2000 Sydney Olympics,[4] said: "As someone who has traveled to Iran for wrestling twice and welcomed Iranian athletes into our country, I’ve seen firsthand the dignity and heart of the Iranian people. That’s why it’s so heartbreaking to witness a terror regime execute a teenage wrestler."[3]
Tyler Clary, gold medalist in the men's 200m backstroke at the 2012 London Olympics,[5] stated: "As an Olympic gold medalist, I’ve spent my life around athletes who represent the very best of human discipline and freedom."[3]
Other athletes including fencer Eli Bremer, skeleton racer Katie Uhlaender, and former Iranian wrestler Sardar Pashaei also condemned the execution.[3]
Sources
- Mizan Online, Execution report on protesters (reported October 2024), accessed October 2024, https://www.mizanonline.ir/
- Iran International, Iran hangs wrestler Saleh Mohammadi and two others (October 2024), accessed October 2024, https://www.iranintl.com/en
- Fox News, Olympians react to execution of Iranian wrestler (October 2024), accessed October 2024, https://www.foxnews.com/sports
- Olympics.com, Brandon Slay profile, accessed October 2024, https://olympics.com/en/athletes/brandon-slay
- Olympics.com, Tyler Clary profile, accessed October 2024, https://olympics.com/en/athletes/tyler-clary
