Iran has executed three men accused of killing two police officers during protests in January, including 19‑year‑old Saleh Mohammadi, a member of Iran’s wrestling team. Rights groups say the trio were executed after confessions obtained under torture and without adequate defense or fair trials.
CBS News contributor and Iranian activist Masih Alinejad responded to the executions, saying the government is deliberately targeting athletes because they are role models and have power to undermine the regime’s propaganda. She said when prominent athletes join protests or say “no” to the regime, it damages the state’s messaging and that is why officials are retaliating against the “heart of the nation.”
Alinejad described the hangings as revenge by a weakened regime that fears mass uprising. She said the executions are meant to intimidate the public and deter further street protests, and warned that if the international community stays silent, the authorities will execute more detainees. Alinejad said her team is tracking more than a hundred athletes currently imprisoned who may face similar charges and potential executions.
She urged global athletes and political leaders, including former President Trump, to speak out — invoking the “United for Navid” campaign she led after Navid Afkari’s execution — arguing that naming victims and raising international pressure can save lives. Alinejad also criticized the regime’s use of sports to whitewash its image, saying athletes are coerced into public displays supporting the state and that families of dissenting athletes face detention, threats and even sexual violence to force compliance.
Alinejad highlighted cases of women’s national soccer players who sought asylum abroad but were pressured through threats to their families and forced back into public compliance. She described the emotional toll on athletes who are made to appear on state TV wearing forced hijab and praising the regime.
Human rights groups and observers say the executions reflect broader crackdowns on protesters and political prisoners amid internet blackouts and limited independent information about detainees. International appeals for transparency, fair trials and the release of those jailed for peaceful protest continue as activists warn of further reprisals against demonstrators and public figures who oppose the government.