Iran's judiciary-linked Mizan news agency reported the execution by hanging of three men accused of killing two police officers during nationwide protests, including 19-year-old Saleh Mohammadi. Iran International, citing Mizan, described the executions as public and occurring on Thursday.
Dissident media and Iranian-American human rights activists identified Mohammadi as a young wrestler. The reports come amid international concern over Iran's use of the death penalty against protesters.
Several U.S. Olympians shared reactions with Fox News Digital. Brandon Slay, who won Olympic gold in the men's 76kg Greco-Roman wrestling at the 2000 Sydney Games,[1] described the Iranian people he met through wrestling exchanges as dignified, calling the reported execution heartbreaking.
Tyler Clary, Olympic gold medalist in the men's 200m backstroke at the 2012 London Games,[2] called the reported process a sham and highlighted contrasts with athletic values of discipline and freedom.
Kaillie Humphries, multiple Olympic bobsled champion who switched allegiance to the United States in 2020,[3] described the execution as abhorrent and emphasized freedoms available to U.S. athletes.
Other reactions came from fencer Eli Bremer (Beijing 2008 participant), skeleton athlete Katie Uhlaender (four-time Olympian),[4] Israeli skeleton racer Adam Edelman (Pyeongchang 2018), and former Iranian wrestler Sardar Pashaei, who urged international action to protect athletes.
Sources
- Wikipedia. "Brandon Slay". Accessed October 2024. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brandon_Slay
- Wikipedia. "Tyler Clary". Accessed October 2024. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tyler_Clary
- Wikipedia. "Kaillie Humphries". Accessed October 2024. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaillie_Humphries
- Wikipedia. "Katie Uhlaender". Accessed October 2024. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Katie_Uhlaender
