Rep. María Elvira Salazar (R-Fla.) shared her dissent for the Iranian judiciary's execution of a 19-year-old Iranian wrestling national champion, in a social media post via X, reposting Iranian journalist Masih Alinejad’s report on the matter.
In her social media post, Rep. Salazar expressed that “for decades, Iran has waged a brutal campaign against its own people: hanging, silencing, and erasing thousands.”
The Iranian judiciary on Thursday executed three protestors after being accused of killing two Law Enforcement Command (Faraja) officers and “moharebeh” (“waging war against God”) during nationwide protests earlier this year.
According to the Hengaw Organization for Human Rights, Saleh Mohammadi, 19, a member of Iran’s national wrestling team, Mehdi Ghasemi, and Saeed Davoudi, were executed at dawn following forced confessions gathered under torture.
“Young people. Students. Athletes. Brave voices whose only 'crime' was daring to think freely,” Rep. Salazar expressed. “A regime that fears its own people will always choose brutality to survive.”
Rep. Carlos A. Gimenez (R-Fla.) additionally recognized the executions, reposting Alinejad’s report.
Iranian Judiciary-affiliated media reported that the three individuals were convicted of killing Mohammad Ghasemi Hamapour and Abbas Asadi, with knives and swords in separate incidents during protests on Jan. 8 in the holy city of Qom.
According to Iran International, “The authorities also accused them of acting on behalf of Israel and the United States, a frequent claim used by the Islamic Republic against protesters and dissidents.”
During court proceedings before the executions, Mohammadi repeatedly denied the charges, stating that his confessions had been extracted under severe torture.
“Despite the absence of evidence placing him at the scene, including CCTV footage that reportedly did not confirm his presence and witness testimony from his family, the court dismissed exculpatory evidence and upheld the death sentence," the Hengaw Organization for Human Rights reported.
