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Iran is seeking to execute a decorated Iranian wrestler for simply peacefully protesting against the regime in early January, prompting the U.S. State Department to demand Wednesday that Tehran reverse the death sentence handed down to 19-year-old Saleh Mohammadi.
Wrestling is a national pastime in Iran and a sport enjoyed by President Donald Trump, who sought to save the life of Iranian Greco-Roman wrestling champion Navid Afkari in 2020. The mullahs’ regime in Iran executed Afkari for his role in 2018 in a protest against the theocratic state’s economic and political corruption.
According to the State Department’s official Farsi-language The regime of the Islamic Republic of Iran is massacring young people and destroying the future of Iran. #StopExecutionsInIran #HumanRights #IranProtest.”
Iranian-American Sardar Pashaei, who won the world Greco-Roman wrestling title for Iran and coached the country’s elite Greco-Roman team, told PK Press Club Digital: “In less than 10 days, the Iranian regime has slaughtered more than 30 athletes across the country. The youngest was only 15 years old. The victims included young athletes, national champions, international coaches and referees.
Iran is accused of sexually assaulting teenage prisoners, while families are tasked with recovering the remains of their loved ones.
He added that his organization, Hiwa, “has only documented confirmed cases. Many other athletes remain missing, imprisoned or at risk of torture and execution, while families across Iran continue to search for their loved ones without answers or justice.” He praised the actions of the State Department in publicly calling for the release of Saleh Mohammadi.
Wrestling champion Saleh Mohammadi faces imminent execution in Iran for taking part in a protest as international pressure mounts to save the athlete. (The Foreign Office)
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Pashaei continued: “A regime that imprisons, tortures and murders its own athletes has no place in the international sporting community. Sport should never be used to whiten blood. Hiwa is preparing an official letter demanding that the International Olympic Committee and United World Wrestling suspend and ban Iran from all international competitions.
Islamic Republic security forces arrested Olympic wrestler Alireza Nejati, a world championship medalist, after he posted a social media message to his more than 78,000 Instagram followers. The regime imprisoned Nejati and allegedly tortured him.
“I wish everyone a wonderful weekend full of success and good vibes,” the 27-year-old Greco-Roman wrestling champion wrote on January 7. He concluded his message with “This is the end.”
PK Press Club Digital emailed press inquiries and made phone calls to the UWW.
An IOC spokesperson told PK Press Club Digital that “Unfortunately, today’s world is divided and full of conflict and tragedy. The IOC cares deeply about the situation of athletes around the world and is concerned whenever it learns of individual cases of mistreatment. to our attention due to the increasingly divided world in which we live. »
The spokesperson continued: “The IOC is a sports organization whose mission and success is based on bringing the world together in peaceful competition. We must be realistic about the IOC’s ability to directly influence global and national affairs. At the same time, we will continue to work with our Olympic stakeholders to help where we can, often through discreet sports diplomacy. The IOC remains in contact with the Iranian Olympic community.”
Iran to execute second wrestler, sparking outrage from US State Department
Iranians in Canada demonstrate at Mel Lastman Square against the Iranian regime’s execution of wrestler Navid Afkari, in Toronto, Ontario, September 15, 2020. The death sentence caused an international outcry, but the regime persisted. (Photo by Sayed Najafizada/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Foreign Desk Editor Lisa Daftari, who is a leading expert on Iran, told PK Press Club Digital: “Saleh Mohammadi is a 19-year-old athlete whose only ‘crime’ was standing with his people, but now he faces an imminent death sentence designed to make an example of him and terrify an entire nation. they are really alone or not.
She added: “By threatening to kill its youth – its athletes, artists, musicians and brightest minds – the regime is making it clear that it does not view the Iranian people as its future, but as a threat to be silenced. »
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PK Press Club Digital has contacted the US State Department for comment.
