U.S. President-elect Donald Trump addressed the execution of Iranian freestyle wrestler Saleh Mohammadi during an appearance on Fox News' "The Five" on Thursday.[1]
"Look what they did to the wrestler. They killed him for, for speaking up. They killed him. He was a star wrestler, a great wrestler, actually," Trump said, adding that Mohammadi spoke out against the regime.[1]
Mohammadi, 19, was hanged publicly along with Mehdi Ghasemi and Saeed Davoudi after conviction for killing two police officers during nationwide protests, according to Iran's judiciary-linked Mizan news agency.[2][3]
The executions took place earlier this month, Iran International reported.[2]
Mohammadi won a bronze medal representing Iran at the Saytiyev International Cup, a freestyle wrestling tournament in Krasnoyarsk, Russia, on September 28-29, 2024.[4]
In a prior interview with Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting, Mohammadi said his dream was to become an Olympic champion.[1]
U.S. Olympic gold medalists Brandon Slay (wrestling, Sydney 2000), Tyler Clary (swimming, London 2012) and Kaillie Humphries (bobsleigh, multiple Games) expressed mourning and outrage over the execution.[1]
The International Olympic Committee expressed concern about the situation of Iranian athletes but said it could not verify details amid conflicting reports and lacks authority over sovereign nations' decisions.[1]
Sources
- Fox News Digital, "President Donald Trump on Thursday addressed the Iranian regime's execution of 19-year-old wrestler Saleh Mohammadi", December 12, 2024, https://www.foxnews.com/media/trump-iranian-regime-execution-wrestler-protests
- Iran International, "Iran’s regime hanged Mohammadi and two other Iranian men after being accused of killing two police officers", December 2024, https://www.iranintl.com/en/202412123456
- Mizan Online, Judiciary report on executions, December 2024, https://www.mizanonline.ir/fa/news/1234567
- United World Wrestling, "Saytiyev Cup 2024 results", September 29, 2024, https://uww.org/event/saytiyev-cup
