Iran executed three men on Thursday accused of killing police officers during nationwide protests in January. Among them was Saleh Mohammadi, a teenager and international wrestling competitor. Rights groups said the executions followed unfair trials, with confessions obtained under torture.
Executions carried out in Qom
The men – Mehdi Ghasemi, Saleh Mohammadi, and Saeed Davoudi – were hanged in Qom, south of Tehran. They were convicted under the capital crime of moharebeh, or “waging war against God,” for involvement in killing two police officers and carrying out actions allegedly favouring Israel and the US, according to Iran’s judiciary news agency Mizan.
اعدام مخفیانه سه معترض سه نفر بازداشت شدگان اعتراضات دیماه در زندان قم
— Hengaw Organization for Human Rights (@HengawO) March 19, 2026
صالح محمدی، مهدی قاسمی و سعید داودیhttps://t.co/XP6bJq7Wli
Concerns over fair trials
Amnesty International and Norway-based NGO Iran Human Rights condemned the trials, highlighting Mohammadi’s age and the lack of adequate legal defence. The use of the death penalty under such circumstances has been likened to “extrajudicial killing.”
Risk of further executions
The executions followed the hanging of Kouroush Keyvani, a dual Iranian-Swedish national convicted of spying for Israel. Human rights groups warn that mass executions of protesters and political prisoners could increase amid the ongoing war with Israel and the United States.
Protests and crackdown
The January demonstrations initially arose over rising living costs before escalating into nationwide anti-government protests. Human rights organizations estimate thousands of deaths during the crackdown, with Iran acknowledging over 3,000 fatalities.
Hardline judiciary response
Iran’s judiciary chief Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei has pledged “no leniency” against individuals convicted of violent acts during the protests. Hundreds more protesters currently face charges that could carry the death penalty.
Global condemnation
Rights organizations emphasize that these executions are intended to instill fear and suppress dissent. Iran remains the world’s most prolific executioner after China, with at least 1,500 executions last year alone.
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