QOM, IRAN — International human rights organizations are sounding an urgent alarm following the public hanging of three young men in the city of Qom on Thursday, March 19, 2026. The executions are the first confirmed death sentences carried out in relation to the nationwide anti-government protests that peaked in January, sparking fears of a broader state-sanctioned campaign to suppress internal dissent while the country remains under intense military pressure from the United States and Israel.
According to the judiciary-linked Mizan News Agency, the three men—identified as Saleh Mohammadi (19), Saeed Davoudi (21), and Mehdi Ghasemi—were convicted of moharebeh (“enmity against God”) for their alleged roles in the killing of two police officers during the January unrest.
A “Message of Terror”
The timing and public nature of the hangings have been characterized by monitors as a calculated effort to intimidate a population increasingly vocal about economic collapse and political reform.
- Profile of the Executed: Among those killed was Saleh Mohammadi, a bronze-medalist wrestler who had represented Iran internationally. His execution has drawn sharp comparisons to that of wrestler Navid Afkari in 2020, which similarly galvanized global outrage.
- Allegations of Torture: The Center for Human Rights in Iran (CHRI) and Amnesty International reported that the trio was subjected to “grossly unfair trials.” According to family sources and activists, confessions were extracted through severe physical torture and the men were denied access to independent legal counsel.
- The “Domestic Front” Strategy: Analysts suggest that as the Iranian leadership faces “Operation Epic Fury”—which has decimated its conventional military and energy infrastructure—the regime is doubling down on domestic “security” to prevent a secondary internal uprising.
Growing List of Detainees at Risk
Rights groups warn that these three executions may be the vanguard of a much larger wave. Current estimates from the Hengaw Organization for Human Rights and Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO) indicate:
- 27+ Protesters have already been handed formal death sentences.
- Dozens More face charges punishable by death, including prominent athletes, coaches, and students.
- Total Detentions: Since the January protests and the subsequent start of the war on February 28, an estimated 40,000 to 53,000 people have been detained.
International Reaction
The United Nations Independent Fact-Finding Mission on Iran warned this week that the country’s human rights crisis is “deepening on an unprecedented scale.” The European Union has signaled it is weighing further diplomatic and economic sanctions specifically targeting the Iranian judiciary in response to these “extrajudicial killings.”
Despite the ongoing internet blackout and the physical destruction of communication hubs, reports of the executions have continued to leak out, further fueling anti-government sentiment within the country’s remaining underground networks.
Human-rights-by-Nick-Youngson-CC-BY-SA-3.0
