In a fervent call to action, a vocal opponent of the Iranian regime, along with a former leader of Iran’s national wrestling team, is advocating for the exclusion of Iran from international sports competitions. This plea comes on the heels of reports that Tehran has executed thousands of individuals protesting the government, a chilling reminder of the regime’s authoritarian grip.
Wrestling, a beloved sport in Iran, faces a crisis as the government continues its crackdown on dissidents. A report by Iran International, an independent news outlet based in London, highlights the tragic death of Parsa Lorestani, a 15-year-old protester and wrestler from Zagheh. Lorestani was shot by a government sniper in Khorramabad during a demonstration on January 8. Heartbreaking footage of the young wrestler in action has been shared widely, underscoring the devastating loss.
Adding to this grim narrative is the plight of Saleh Mohammadi, a celebrated wrestler who is now facing execution for his involvement in protests. The international community is rallying for his release, with mounting pressure to save the athlete’s life.
Former national Greco-Roman wrestling coach, Sardar Parshei, took to social media to express his grief and outrage over the recent killings. “Another wrestler murdered. Erfan Kari was 20. A champion,” he lamented on his X account, emphasizing Kari’s potential to become an Olympian. Instead, Kari was shot for protesting the regime. Parshei implores others to use their voices to advocate for imprisoned wrestlers.
On a similar note, prominent dissident Masih Alinejad informed her 786,800 followers via X that the Iranian regime has killed over 40,000 protesters, including numerous athletes and young people. She criticized the regime’s manipulation of international sporting events to sanitize its image. With the FIFA World Cup approaching in the United States, Alinejad called on FIFA to take a decisive stand against the regime.
Alinejad also highlighted the influence of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), labeled a terrorist organization by the U.S. and European Union, which wields significant control over Iranian society, including the realm of sports.
“FIFA, the International Olympic Committee and all global sports organizations must refuse to legitimize a system that massacres its own people and athletes for demanding freedom and human dignity,” Alinejad said. “Boycott the Islamic Republic from all international sporting competitions.”
Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei pictured sitting next to senior military official in Iran. (Getty Images)
Afsoon Roshanzamir Johnston, the first American female wrestler to win a medal in world championship competition in 1989, told Fox News Digital the slaughter of protesters in her homeland makes her sick.
“It is with a very sad and heavy heart that I speak for the Iranian people and the dire situation currently unfolding in my homeland.,” she said. “Having been a young girl in Iran during the 1979 Revolution, I vividly remember the feeling of the clocks being turned back 100 years as women’s freedoms and fundamental human rights were stripped away overnight.”
Roshanzamir Johnston said females women are denied the basic right to participate in athletics, and young male wrestlers are being tortured and executed.
“We can no longer turn a blind eye to this brutality,” she said. “It is time for a call to action: we must find a way to place undeniable pressure on the regime to end these mass killings without stripping our athletes of their hard-earned opportunities. The world must stand with the people of Iran before more of our bravest souls are lost.”
Parshei, who was a world champion Greco-Roman wrestler, told Fox News Digital that he is also campaigning for the IOC and the United World Wrestling organization to block Iran from competitions.
Sepehr Ebrahimi was shot and killed by security forces during anti-regime protests near Tehran on Jan. 11. (Simay Azadi/ National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI))
When asked if the IOC would ban Iran and whether the Olympic body agrees with the U.S. demand that Iran not execute 19-year-old wrestler Saleh Mohammadi, who faces an imminent death penalty, the IOC media team directed Fox News Digital to a January 29 statement on the matter.
“We will continue to work with our Olympic stakeholders to help where we can, often through quiet sport diplomacy. The IOC remains in touch with the Olympic community from Iran.”
Dan Russell, executive director of the U.S.-based Wrestling for Peace organization, said sports and diplomacy can be complicated, but in the current situation, athletes must stand together.
“Neutrality cannot mean indifference when lives are at stake,” Russell said. “Sport must take a stand for peace, respect, and human dignity.”
“Every option must be considered to demand an immediate halt to executions, the release of imprisoned wrestlers such as Saleh Mohammadi and Alireza Nejati, and basic protections for athletes who speak with conscience,” Russell added. “Athletes who represent the best of who we are as the wrestling family. “
A spokesman for Iran’s UN mission told Fox News Digital that “The mission declined to comment.”
But not all critics of Tehran’s brutal regime support banning Iran from sports competitions.
“I am not in favour of banning Iran’s wrestling team,” said Potkin Azarmehr, a British-Iranian expert on the Islamic Republic. “If Iran’s wrestling team competes, it’s an opportunity for more defections and protests against the regime by the spectators which will be televised and reach millions of viewers inside Iran, too.”
“The ban would just be a blanket victimization of other wrestlers who have trained long hours for this,” he added. “Having said that, the IOC and UWW should make some statement and make sure spectators are allowed to display pictures of the fallen wrestlers.”
