Iran Continues Decades-Long History of Executing Wrestlers

The Iranian regime hanged 19-year-old freestyle wrestling champion Saleh Mohammadi for moharebeh, waging war against God. Photo courtesy of Think Over the News, screenshot via Twitter.

Iran executed 19-year-old freestyle wrestling champion Saleh Mohammadi on March 19, 2026, in a public hanging in Qom alongside Saeed Davoudi and Mehdi Ghasemi. The three had been arrested on December 18, 2025, and charged with moharebeh, waging war against God, in connection with the deaths of two police officers during protests on January 8.