Roger-Luc Chayer (Photo: Unknown source)
The question arises, because with Iran, the line between truth and misinformation is often very thin. What exactly is this about? A 19-year-old Iranian wrestler, Saleh Mohammadi, was sentenced to death and executed yesterday by hanging. That is the headline of the news, but from here onward, and according to various sources, it is difficult to determine exactly why he was executed.
A young athlete at the heart of protests in Iran
Saleh Mohammadi was a 19-year-old Iranian wrestler and a member of the national team. He was arrested in January 2026 following protests against the Iranian regime, triggered by an economic crisis and quickly turning political.
The authorities primarily accused him of two things: killing a police officer during these protests and committing the crime of “moharebeh” (translated as “war against God”), an accusation often used in Iran against dissidents.
A trial denounced by international NGOs
He was tried very quickly and sentenced to death. NGOs such as Amnesty International claim that his trial was unfair, with confessions obtained under coercion and without real access to a lawyer.
He was ultimately executed on March 19, 2026, along with two other young men, in what is presented as the first executions linked to recent protests in Iran.
A promising Iranian wrestling talent cut short
Saleh Mohammadi specialized in Greco-Roman wrestling. Trained in Qom, he quickly stood out in junior categories thanks to his physical strength and technical discipline.
He initially practiced freestyle wrestling before switching to Greco-Roman, where he achieved his best results. In 2024, he won a bronze medal at the Saitiev Cup in Russia, a well-known competition that brings together promising young talents.
Considered a rising star in Iranian sports, he was part of a new generation of athletes likely to join the senior national team.
An execution with uncertain motives
He was therefore executed either because he allegedly killed a police officer, or because he allegedly insulted his god and religion.
Caution is needed here, due to similarities with a case that deeply marked international opinion.
The Mahmoud Asgari and Ayaz Marhoni precedent
In Edalat Square, in front of a crowd, Mahmoud Asgari (16 or 17 years old according to sources) and Ayaz Marhoni (18 or 19 years old) were publicly hanged in 2005. The two young men, originally from Khorasan province, had been sentenced to death by an Iranian court.
According to Iranian authorities and official reports published at the time by the ISNA agency and the Quds newspaper, the teenagers were found guilty of “lavat beh onf”, meaning the rape of a 13-year-old boy. The assault allegedly took place fourteen months earlier, with the use of force. Before their execution, they had already been sentenced to 228 lashes for various offenses.
The next day, shocking images circulated and sparked worldwide outrage. The group OutRage!, led by Peter Tatchell, claimed that they were actually executed for homosexuality, turning the case into a symbol of repression against LGBT people in Iran.
A debate that has never been settled
However, several organizations such as Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, and the IGLHRC concluded that the charges indeed related to the violent rape of a minor.
The debate has never fully disappeared. Some activists continue to believe that the accusations may have been manipulated by the regime, while other NGOs warn against unverified narratives that could undermine the credibility of human rights defenders.
A call for caution in the face of information
For this reason, I urge readers to exercise the utmost caution regarding this tragic news involving this young Olympic hopeful. Did he actually kill a police officer? In many countries, including the United States, if he had been found guilty of such a crime in a state where the death penalty is in effect, he could also have been sentenced to death and executed.
We will likely never know the full truth in this case.