Iran hangs 3, including teen wrestler, in first executions over Jan. protests

CBS News
March 19, 2026
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3 min read

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Iran executed three men, including a teenage national wrestling team member, in the first capital punishments tied to January 2024 protests.

AI Summary

Iran executed three men, including Saleh Mohammadi, a young wrestler on Iran's national team, in what two sources confirmed to CBS News were the first capital punishments tied to the country's January 2024 protests. The executions mark a significant escalation in Iran's crackdown on dissent following demonstrations that erupted after the death of Mahsa Amini in custody, which had sparked widespread unrest across the country. The execution of Mohammadi, despite his youth and athletic prominence, signals that Iranian authorities are willing to pursue death sentences even against public figures to suppress protest activity. The move is likely to intensify international scrutiny of Iran's human rights record and potentially draw condemnation from Western governments and advocacy groups.

What's Being Done

International scrutiny of Iran's human rights record is likely to intensify, with potential condemnation from Western governments and advocacy groups.

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